College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023 Mar;10(9):e2206094. doi: 10.1002/advs.202206094. Epub 2023 Jan 19.
High-performance multilayer dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are well-positioned to overcome the insufficient output force and energy density as artificial muscles. However, due to the fabrication process, the multilayer DEAs with nonmodifiable structures often suffer from the limitation of short lifespans and scalable preparation. Herein, reusable multilayer DEAs with the detachable and reconfigurable structure are fabricated. This is achieved by realizing scalable compliant electrodes using the continuous spatial confining forced network assembly (CSNA) method and combining the vacuum lamination (VL) approach to have good attachability and detachability with the VHB dielectric elastomer. The flexible roller-based CSNA method is used to prepare the large area compliant electrodes composed of α, ω-dihydroxy polydimethylsiloxane and electrically conductive nanoparticles. The fabricated electrodes can continuously work over 10 000 cycles at 40% strained stretching and maintain smooth surfaces to construct multilayer DEAs. Moreover, owing to the detachable configuration of the DEAs, the electrodes can also be recovered and reused for building new actuators. The lower limb assistive device is demonstrated by detachable multilayer spring roll DEAs, achieving approximately 3.1 degrees of flexion and extension movement of knee models under a voltage of 7 kV. The detachable and reconfigurable multilayer DEAs shed new light on the applications of wearable assistive devices.
高性能多层介电弹性体致动器（DEA）作为人造肌肉，具有克服输出力和能量密度不足的优势。然而，由于制造工艺的限制，具有不可修改结构的多层 DEA 通常存在寿命短和可扩展性制备的局限性。在此，制备了具有可拆卸和可重构结构的可重复使用的多层 DEA。这是通过使用连续空间约束强制网络组装（CSNA）方法实现可扩展的柔顺电极，并结合真空层压（VL）方法来实现的，该方法与 VHB 介电弹性体具有良好的附着性和可分离性。基于柔性辊的 CSNA 方法用于制备由α，ω-二羟基聚二甲基硅氧烷和导电纳米颗粒组成的大面积柔顺电极。所制备的电极可以在 40%应变拉伸下连续工作超过 10000 次，并保持光滑的表面以构建多层 DEA。此外，由于 DEA 的可拆卸配置，电极也可以回收和重复用于构建新的致动器。通过可拆卸的多层弹簧辊 DEA 演示了下肢辅助装置，在 7 kV 电压下，实现了膝关节模型约 3.1 度的弯曲和伸展运动。可拆卸和可重构的多层 DEA 为可穿戴辅助设备的应用开辟了新的途径。
