Related papers: A novel dielectric elastomer actuator based on pol…
In this work, we introduce an advanced thermo-active variable impedance module which builds upon our previous innovation in thermal-based impedance adjustment for actuation systems. Our initial design harnessed the temperature-responsive,…
Large deformations of soft elastic beads spinning at high angular velocity in a denser background fluid are investigated theoretically, numerically, and experimentally using millimeter-size polyacrylamide hydrogel particles introduced in a…
Aging populations and the rising prevalence of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders increase the demand for wearable mobility assistive devices that are effective, comfortable, and anatomically compatible. Many existing systems use…
Ionic polymer actuators, in essence, consist of ion exchange polymers sandwiched between layers of electrodes. They have recently gained recognition as promising candidates for soft actuators due to their lightweight nature, noise-free…
The dynamic interplay between light and electric field control of charge states lies at the heart of developing multifunctional optoelectronic devices. While persistent photoconductivity (PPC) and gate-voltage (VG)-induced electron trapping…
The design of photo-active collagen systems is presented as a basis for establishing biomimetic materials with varied network architecture and programmable macroscopic properties. Following in-house isolation of type I collagen, reaction…
We present microfabricated thermal actuators to engineer the biaxial strain in two-dimensional (2D) materials. These actuators are based on microheater circuits patterned onto the surface of a polymer with a high thermal expansion…
One of the main macroscopic differences between ordinary and highly viscous fluids is the lack of transverse sound in the first and possibility of its excitation in the second. In modern high-mobility conductors (Weyl semimetals,…
Fusion of lipid bilayers in membranes is important in processes from vesicle-cell interactions (as in drug delivery) to exosome-cell signaling, while transient transmembrane electric fields are known to occur spontaneously. Two contacting…
The Ra EDM experiment uses a pair of high voltage electrodes to search for the atomic electric dipole moment of $^{225}$Ra. We use identical, plane-parallel electrodes with a primary high gradient surface of 200 mm$^2$ to generate…
Stereolithographic 3D-printing (SLA) permits facile fabrication of high-precision microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip devices. SLA photopolymers often yield parts with low mechanical compliancy in sharp contrast to elastomers such as…
In solids, frequent electron-electron collisions can induce collective, fluid-like electron transport. While this regime offers a powerful framework for exploring many-body phenomena, there is still a lack in functional electronic device…
Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Poly(vinylidene fluoride) blends at mass ratio 3:1 with Nano - Graphene Platelet fillers constitute mechanically and thermally stable systems, which are used for developing piezoelectric devices. Blends host a fraction…
In order to fully harness the potential of dielectric elastomer actu-ators (DEAs) in soft robots, advanced control methods are need-ed. An important groundwork for this is the development of a control-oriented model that can adequately…
Battery electrode surfaces are generally coated with electronically insulating solid films of thickness 1-50 nm. Both electrons and Li+ can move at the electrode-surface film interface in response to the voltage, which adds complexity to…
Conductive elastomers present desirable qualities for sensing pressure in-vivo, such as high piezoresistance in tiny volumes, conformability and, biocompatibility. Many PDMS-based electrically conductive nanocomposites however, are…
The cryogenic approach to the search for the neutron electric dipole moment--performing the experiment in superfluid liquid helium--holds promise for a substantial increase in sensitivity, potentially enabling a sensitivity level of…
Observations of emergent quantum phases in twisted bilayer graphene prompted a flurry of activities in van-der-Waals (vdW) materials beyond graphene. Most current twisted experiments use a so-called tear-and-stack method using a polymer…
The key to achieving high-quality van der Waals heterostructure devices made from various two-dimensional (2D) materials lies in the control over clean and flexible interfaces. However, existing transfer methods based on different mediators…
Because of the flexoelectric effect, dielectric materials usually polarize in response to a strain gradient. Soft materials are good candidates for developing large strain gradient because of their good deformability. However, they always…