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Ultrasoft and fast self-healing poly(ionic liquid) electrode for dielectric elastomer actuators

Author

Listed:
  • Hui Wang

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Adit Gupta

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Qiuchun Lu

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Wenting Wu

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Xueyang Wang

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Xin Huang

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Xuanyi Hu

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Pooi See Lee

    (Nanyang Technological University)

Abstract

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) exhibit large actuation strains, lightweight, and fast response, making them a promising candidate for soft robotics and soft grippers. Ionogels have been used as the electrodes in DEAs to offer thermostability and self-healability, however, typically the elastic modulus of the self-healing ionogel electrodes is of several tens of kPa (or higher), limiting the actuation strain performance and self-healing speed of the DEA. In this work, a poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) electrode with an ultralow elastic modulus of 3.4 kPa and rapid self-healing within 10 s in ambient and underwater conditions is achieved through ionic interaction regulation. The resultant DEAs realized an area strain of 63.2%, and maintained the strains after 10 s of self-healing at room temperature, outperforming other reported DEAs with self-healing electrodes. With the PIL electrode, a soft gripper composed of two bending DEAs is fabricated to gently handle soft and delicate objects in both air and underwater settings, retaining functionality even after damages due to self-healing of the PIL electrodes. The PIL electrode advances the development of electrically driven soft robotics for exploration in harsh environment or underwater settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui Wang & Adit Gupta & Qiuchun Lu & Wenting Wu & Xueyang Wang & Xin Huang & Xuanyi Hu & Pooi See Lee, 2025. "Ultrasoft and fast self-healing poly(ionic liquid) electrode for dielectric elastomer actuators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62796-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62796-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhengyang Kong & Elvis K. Boahen & Dong Jun Kim & Fenglong Li & Joo Sung Kim & Hyukmin Kweon & So Young Kim & Hanbin Choi & Jin Zhu & Wu Ying & Do Hwan Kim, 2024. "Ultrafast underwater self-healing piezo-ionic elastomer via dynamic hydrophobic-hydrolytic domains," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Matthew Wei Ming Tan & Hyunwoo Bark & Gurunathan Thangavel & Xuefei Gong & Pooi See Lee, 2022. "Photothermal modulated dielectric elastomer actuator for resilient soft robots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Wenwen Feng & Lin Sun & Zhekai Jin & Lili Chen & Yuncong Liu & Hao Xu & Chao Wang, 2024. "A large-strain and ultrahigh energy density dielectric elastomer for fast moving soft robot," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
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