Use of a multilayered dielectric elastomer actuator as a high-performance artificial muscle:Design,fabrication,and applications
A dielectric elastomer actuator(DEA)has excellent actuation characteristics comparable to those of a natural muscle.This characteristic has become a hot topic in the field of soft actuators in recent years.A multilayered DEA(MDEA)is an emerging new solution to overcome the drawbacks of low output force,easy instability,poor structural stiffness,and the need for pre-stretch maintenance in a single-layer DEA.This paper introduces the characteristics of various MDEA materials,summarizes the existing design and preparation methods for laminated structures,and compares and analyzes their performance.In addition,this paper summarizes multiple flexible electrodes suitable for MDEA and the corresponding patterning preparation methods,and finally discusses the application of MDEA in many flexible devices and robots.With technological developments,high-performance MDEA can play a critical role as artificial muscles and support the further development of flexible systems,especially in the field of soft robots.