In silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators
Abstract Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) exhibit fast actuation and high efficiencies, enabling applications in optics, wearable haptics, and insect-scale robotics. However, the non-uniformity and high sheet resistance of traditional soft electrodes based on nanomaterials limit the performance...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54931-y |
| _version_ | 1797274689110802432 |
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| author | Mohammadreza Firoozan Majid Baniassadi Mostafa Baghani Alex Chortos |
| author_facet | Mohammadreza Firoozan Majid Baniassadi Mostafa Baghani Alex Chortos |
| author_sort | Mohammadreza Firoozan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) exhibit fast actuation and high efficiencies, enabling applications in optics, wearable haptics, and insect-scale robotics. However, the non-uniformity and high sheet resistance of traditional soft electrodes based on nanomaterials limit the performance and operating frequency of the devices. In this work, we computationally investigate electrodes composed of arrays of stiff fiber electrodes. Aligning the fibers along one direction creates an electrode layer that exhibits zero stiffness in one direction and is predicted to possess high and uniform sheet resistance. A comprehensive parameter study of the fiber density and dielectric thickness reveals that the fiber density primary determines the electric field localization while the dielectric thickness primarily determines the unit cell stiffness. These trends identify an optimal condition for the actuation performance of the aligned electrode DEAs. This work demonstrates that deterministically designed electrodes composed of stiff materials could provide a new paradigm with the potential to surpass the performance of traditional soft planar electrodes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:01:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5f9f8e7510e4feabbd15c2f3ef75c2c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:01:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5f9f8e7510e4feabbd15c2f3ef75c2c2024-03-05T19:06:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-54931-yIn silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuatorsMohammadreza Firoozan0Majid Baniassadi1Mostafa Baghani2Alex Chortos3School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue UniversitySchool of Mechanical Engineering, University of TehranSchool of Mechanical Engineering, University of TehranSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue UniversityAbstract Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) exhibit fast actuation and high efficiencies, enabling applications in optics, wearable haptics, and insect-scale robotics. However, the non-uniformity and high sheet resistance of traditional soft electrodes based on nanomaterials limit the performance and operating frequency of the devices. In this work, we computationally investigate electrodes composed of arrays of stiff fiber electrodes. Aligning the fibers along one direction creates an electrode layer that exhibits zero stiffness in one direction and is predicted to possess high and uniform sheet resistance. A comprehensive parameter study of the fiber density and dielectric thickness reveals that the fiber density primary determines the electric field localization while the dielectric thickness primarily determines the unit cell stiffness. These trends identify an optimal condition for the actuation performance of the aligned electrode DEAs. This work demonstrates that deterministically designed electrodes composed of stiff materials could provide a new paradigm with the potential to surpass the performance of traditional soft planar electrodes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54931-y |
| spellingShingle | Mohammadreza Firoozan Majid Baniassadi Mostafa Baghani Alex Chortos In silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators Scientific Reports |
| title | In silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators |
| title_full | In silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators |
| title_fullStr | In silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators |
| title_full_unstemmed | In silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators |
| title_short | In silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators |
| title_sort | in silico optimization of aligned fiber electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54931-y |
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