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<p>The low bending force of dielectric elastomer actuators restricts their extensive application in soft robotics. In this study, we fabricated bilayer actuators by using thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer/3,4,9,10 - perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (TPU/PTCDA) blend films as the active layer and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the passive layer (TPU/PTCDA - PET). The effect of PTCDA content on the microphase separated structure, mechanical, and dielectric properties of TPU was investigated, and the interplay between Maxwell stress and bending electrostriction effects on the electrobending properties of TPU/PTCDA-PET actuators were investigated. The modulus and dielectric constant of TPU at 10&#xa0;Hz were enhanced by the addition of PTCDA with a content ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 phr (parts per hundred resin). Moreover, due to the interaction between PTCDA and the hard segments (HSs) of TPU, the addition of PTCDA led to a reduction in the degree of hydrogen (H)-bonding between inter-HSs and the size of the hard domains of TPU. Both Maxwell stress and electrostriction effects contribute to the electrobending of TPU/PTCDA- PET actuators. The synergistic effect of Maxwell stress and electrostriction was achieved when the negative pole was connected to the compliant electrode between the PET and TPU/PTCDA layers. This is because the TPU/PTCDA layer bends in the direction of the negative pole side due to the electrostriction effect, and it bends in the direction of the PET side due to Maxwell stress. In the synergistic condition, the electrobending displacement and calculated bending force of the TPU/PTCDA0.15-PET actuators (TPU with 0.15 phr of PTCDA) reached 1.25&#xa0;mm and 981.3 µN at an electric field of 20&#xa0;V/µm, respectively. These values were 543% and 78 times higher than those of the TPU-PET actuator, and the bending force of the TPU/PTCDA0.15-PET actuator was improved to 426.65 times that of the TPU actuator. Our results offer a strategic approach to enhancing the electrobending properties of TPU-based bilayer actuators through the synergistic effects of Maxwell stress and electrostriction, and modification of TPU by organic semiconductor of PTCDA.</p> Graphical abstract <p>Electrobending Properties of Dielectric Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer-Based Bilayer Actuators.</p>

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Electrobending properties of dielectric thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer-based bilayer actuators

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月16日

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  • Yongri Liang,
  • Yinghong Liu,
  • Hongyu Gao

摘要

The low bending force of dielectric elastomer actuators restricts their extensive application in soft robotics. In this study, we fabricated bilayer actuators by using thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer/3,4,9,10 - perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (TPU/PTCDA) blend films as the active layer and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the passive layer (TPU/PTCDA - PET). The effect of PTCDA content on the microphase separated structure, mechanical, and dielectric properties of TPU was investigated, and the interplay between Maxwell stress and bending electrostriction effects on the electrobending properties of TPU/PTCDA-PET actuators were investigated. The modulus and dielectric constant of TPU at 10 Hz were enhanced by the addition of PTCDA with a content ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 phr (parts per hundred resin). Moreover, due to the interaction between PTCDA and the hard segments (HSs) of TPU, the addition of PTCDA led to a reduction in the degree of hydrogen (H)-bonding between inter-HSs and the size of the hard domains of TPU. Both Maxwell stress and electrostriction effects contribute to the electrobending of TPU/PTCDA- PET actuators. The synergistic effect of Maxwell stress and electrostriction was achieved when the negative pole was connected to the compliant electrode between the PET and TPU/PTCDA layers. This is because the TPU/PTCDA layer bends in the direction of the negative pole side due to the electrostriction effect, and it bends in the direction of the PET side due to Maxwell stress. In the synergistic condition, the electrobending displacement and calculated bending force of the TPU/PTCDA0.15-PET actuators (TPU with 0.15 phr of PTCDA) reached 1.25 mm and 981.3 µN at an electric field of 20 V/µm, respectively. These values were 543% and 78 times higher than those of the TPU-PET actuator, and the bending force of the TPU/PTCDA0.15-PET actuator was improved to 426.65 times that of the TPU actuator. Our results offer a strategic approach to enhancing the electrobending properties of TPU-based bilayer actuators through the synergistic effects of Maxwell stress and electrostriction, and modification of TPU by organic semiconductor of PTCDA.

Graphical abstract

Electrobending Properties of Dielectric Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer-Based Bilayer Actuators.