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Cited by 197Dielectric materials and actuatorsAdvanced Materials and MechanicsSoft Robotics and Applications

Reconfigurable shape-morphing dielectric elastomers using spatially varying electric fields

Open access
Hajiesmaili, Ehsan, Clarke, David R.·2019·Nature Communications
DOI 10.1038/s41467-018-08094-wPMC PMC6331644
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Abstract

Exceptionally large strains can be produced in soft elastomers by the application of an electric field and the strains can be exploited for a variety of novel actuators, such as tunable lenses and tactile actuators. However, shape morphing with dielectric elastomers has not been possible since no generalizable method for changing their Gaussian curvature has been devised. Here it is shown that this fundamental limitation can be lifted by introducing internal, spatially varying electric fields through a layer-by-layer fabrication method incorporating shaped, carbon-nanotubes-based electrodes between thin elastomer sheets. To illustrate the potential of the method, voltage-tunable negative and positive Gaussian curvatures shapes are produced. Furthermore, by applying voltages to different sets of internal electrodes, the shapes can be re-configured. All the shape changes are reversible when the voltage is removed.

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  • Hajiesmaili et al. [132] developed an FIM using electrodes made of carbon nanotubes sandwiched between thin elastomer sheets, where applying different voltages to specific internal electrodes reconfigures the surface shape through reversible deformation.

    “For instance, Hajiesmaili et al. [132] developed an FIM using specially designed electrodes made of carbon nanotubes sandwiched between thin elastomer sheets. By applying different voltages to specific internal electrodes, the surface shape can be reconfigured through reversible deformation.”

    From Emerging Technologies in Intelligent Metasurfaces: Shaping the Future of Wireless Communications (2026) · cites this paper as [132]

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Research works printed but not linked: 22

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Hajiesmaili, E., & Clarke, D. R.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Clarke, David R.
ORCID
Venue
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-01-14
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
183-183
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41467-018-08094-w
PMC
PMC6331644
OpenAlex
W2893554200
Cited by
197
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 10
FWCI
9.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (1420570)
  • Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University (DMR- 1420570, 1420570)
  • Division of Materials Research (DMR 14–20570, 1420570)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Dielectric materials and actuators
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Advanced Materials and Mechanics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Soft Robotics and Applications
Keywords
dielectric elastomers, shape morphing, Gaussian curvature, carbon nanotube electrodes, layer-by-layer assembly, reconfigurable actuators, soft actuators, tunable lens, tactile actuators

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