Electrode Arrangement and Its Effects on Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) are devices consisting of an elastomer layer positioned between flexible electrodes, allowing control of mechanical displacement and velocity by adjusting voltage and frequency. Due to these characteristics, DEAs have attracted significant attention in various fields such as biomimetic robotics, artificial muscles, wearable devices, and micro-mechatronics. In particular, the performance of DEAs can vary significantly depending on the electrode arrangement, and systematic research in this area is crucial for the efficient design and exploration of new applications.<br/>In this study, we analyzed the effect of electrode stacking position on the mechanical performance of DEAs. Specifically, we compared the behavior of DEAs with concentric and biased electrode arrangements. Samples were fabricated for both electrode configurations, and experiments were conducted to evaluate their performance. The DEAs were fabricated using acrylate oligomer for the dielectric layer and carbon nanotubes (CNT) for the electrode layers. Specimens with the two different electrode configurations were tested, with displacement measured in real time using a photonic sensor, and block force measured using a load cell. The frequency and amplitude were varied to analyze the performance differences between the two configurations in detail.<br/>This study demonstrates the influence of electrode arrangement on the mechanical performance of DEAs and provides valuable reference data for future DEA design and applications in various fields.