| Popis: |
Conductive hydrogel-based dielectric elastomer drives can perform flexible motion under high voltages (in kV) stimulus. Such a drive is typically comprised of a dielectric elastomer layer sandwiched by two conductive hydrogel layers as electrodes. The high voltage applied between the electrodes leads to an attraction force within the two due to Maxwell effects, which squeezes the elastomer in the middle and causes remarkable lateral expansions. Contrast to the conventional rigid metal electrodes, the flexible properties of hydrogel electrodes make them suitable for dielectric elastomers that can sustain large deformations. Researches on hydrogel based dielectric elastomer drives in the recent decade have achieved intriguing outcomes and sparked numerous applications in various fields such as material science, electrical engineering, biomedical and bioengineering. This review covers the most recent developments of hydrogel based dielectric elastomers, with emphases on the materials compositions, mechano-electrical properties, adhesive capabilities and structural stabilities. Comparisons of the key features and functions of different drives are listed, and typical applications of these drives are given. Finally, the review provides a perspective of the possible practical usages of this promising device in the not-so-distant future. |
