Stretchable, High-k Dielectric Elastomers through Liquid-Metal Inclusions

Michael D Bartlett; Andrew Fassler; Navid Kazem; Eric J Markvicka; Pratiti Mandal; Carmel Majidi

doi:10.1002/adma.201506243

Stretchable, High-k Dielectric Elastomers through Liquid-Metal Inclusions

Adv Mater. 2016 May;28(19):3726-31. doi: 10.1002/adma.201506243. Epub 2016 Mar 23.

Authors

Michael D Bartlett¹, Andrew Fassler¹, Navid Kazem², Eric J Markvicka³, Pratiti Mandal⁴, Carmel Majidi¹

Affiliations

¹ Soft Machines Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
² Soft Machines Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
³ Soft Machines Lab, The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
⁴ Laboratory for Transport Phenomena in Energy Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.

PMID: 27007888
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201506243

Abstract

An all-soft-matter composite with exceptional electro-elasto properties is demonstrated by embedding liquid-metal inclusions in an elastomer matrix. This material exhibits a unique combination of high dielectric constant, low stiffness, and large strain limit (ca. 600% strain). The elasticity, electrostatics, and electromechanical coupling of the composite are investigated, and strong agreement with predictions from effective medium theory is found.

Keywords: dielectric elastomers; eutectic gallium-indium; liquid-solid interfaces; stretchable electronics.