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On-Demand Cross-Linkable Bottlebrush Polymers for Voltage-Driven Artificial Muscles.
Yeerlan Adeli1,2, Francis Owusu1,2, Frank A Nüesch1,2
1Laboratory for Functional Polymers, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Ueberlandstr. 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 12, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed new dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) using bottlebrush polymers that operate at lower voltages. These advanced soft robotic materials offer improved reliability and a longer lifespan for implantable devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Robotics
Background:
- Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) mimic natural muscles but require high driving voltages, limiting their use in human-safe applications.
- Existing soft materials are prone to electromechanical instability (EMI) and dielectric breakdown when thinned to reduce voltage requirements.
- Previous bottlebrush polymer cross-linking methods were oxygen-sensitive, preventing thin film formation and necessitating high operating voltages (>4000 V).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for preparing thin-film dielectric elastomers from bottlebrush polymers.
- To enable DEAs that operate at lower, human-safe voltages while suppressing electromechanical instability.
- To enhance the dielectric properties and mechanical stability of bottlebrush polymer-based actuators.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized macromonomers suitable for ring-opening metathesis polymerization.
- Utilized UV-induced thiol-ene click reaction for rapid, defect-free cross-linking of thin films (<100 μm) under ambient conditions.
- Investigated the electromechanical properties, actuation performance, and cyclic durability of the developed dielectric films.
Main Results:
- Achieved fast, defect-free thin film fabrication of bottlebrush polymers under air.
- Demonstrated up to 12% lateral actuation at 1000 V, significantly lower than previous methods.
- Exhibited excellent durability with over 10,000 cycles at 10 Hz and a dielectric permittivity of 5.5, the highest reported for cross-linked bottlebrush polymers.
Conclusions:
- The new preparation method provides accessible, high-performance bottlebrush polymeric materials for DEAs.
- The developed actuators show potential for soft robotic implantable devices due to low-voltage actuation and long operational life.
- Enhanced dielectric properties through chemical modification open avenues for further material optimization.
