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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Fabrication Process of Silicone-based Dielectric Elastomer Actuators
Published on: February 1, 2016
Robust and Multi-Functional Electrically Responsive Gold/Polydopamine-Coated Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Artificial
Joshua C Ince1, Setareh Elyasi1, Alan R Duffy2
1School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia.
Abstract:
Applying thin electrically conductive coatings to Liquid Crystalline Elastomers (LCEs) is an effective way of functionalizing two-way shape memory polymers with the ability to respond to electrical currents. However, achieving robust adhesion between a given electrically conductive coating and the surface of LCEs can be challenging. This can limit the functionality, performance, and potential applications of these materials. This work describes a facile method to develop electrically responsive Liquid Crystalline Elastomer polymeric artificial muscles with strain-sensing, self-actuation-sensing, and joule-heating features. In this work, the effect of treating LCEs with polydopamine (PDA) prior to functionalizing the LCE with an electrically conductive gold-sputtered coating was explored. The findings confirmed that the PDA treatment considerably improved the adhesion of the gold sputter coating to the LCEs, thereby leading to the fabrication of multi-functional strain-sensing, electrically conductive, and electro-responsive LCEs.
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