Issue 44, 2016

Elastomers with tunable dielectric and electromechanical properties

Abstract

Novel electroresponsive silicone elastomers modified with nitrile groups are presented, whose dielectric permittivity (ε′) is tuned from ε′ = 4.3 to ε′ = 17.4. They are prepared in a one-step process starting from a high molecular weight poly(methylvinylsiloxane) to which polar nitrile groups and cross-links are introduced in thin films. Different ratios of butanethiol/3-mercaptoproprionitrile are used to vary the amount of nitrile groups in these elastomers, while 2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)diethanethiol is used as a cross-linker. Because of the systematic nature of this investigation, we not only present promising elastic materials with remarkable dielectric, mechanical, and electromechanical properties but also provide a guideline for materials design aimed at dielectric elastomer actuator applications.

Graphical abstract: Elastomers with tunable dielectric and electromechanical properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Apr 2016
Accepted
18 Oct 2016
First published
18 Oct 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 10545-10553

Author version available

Elastomers with tunable dielectric and electromechanical properties

S. J. Dünki, F. A. Nüesch and D. M. Opris, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 10545 DOI: 10.1039/C6TC01731B

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