Crack-Resistant Dielectric Elastomer Artificial Muscles

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) have received attention in the field of artificial muscles due to their rapid mechanical response to electrical fields. However, enhancing the mechanical durability of these elastomers is crucial for extending the operational lifespan of artificial muscles. Conventional DEs typically degrade over time, exhibiting residual strain and reduced functionality after extensive cycling, largely due to their limited fracture toughness and fatigue resistance.
Here, I present a crack-resistant elastomer with excellent dielectric properties achieved through polymer network topology engineering. By incorporating self-assembled nanodomains, we modified the polymer network topology to effectively dissipate stress at crack tips, leading to significantly enhanced fracture toughness, fatigue resistance, and elasticity. These nanodomains also boost the elastomer’s dielectric constant and dielectric strength, further improving performance. The resulting elastomer demonstrates stable actuation over thousands of cycles, maintaining functionality and resilience against both electrical and mechanical failure—even in the presence of cracks.