Fabrication and Performance Tuning of Silica/Silicone Rubber Composites for High-Permittivity Low-Modulus Dielectric Elastomers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/emdfpc20Keywords:
Dielectric elastomer actuator, Dielectric elastomer, SiO₂ nanoparticles, Dielectric constant, Electromechanical strain, Energy densityAbstract
Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are promising electroactive polymers owing to their low modulus, large actuation strain, and fast response. Silicone rubber, particularly polymethylvinylsiloxane (PMVS), is highly attractive due to its excellent flexibility and fatigue resistance. However, its low dielectric constant limits electromechanical performance. Here, we report a synergistic strategy that combines KH570-modified SiO₂ nanoparticles with tunable liquid-to-solid PMVS ratios. By optimizing the matrix composition, the SiO₂@3L7S composite (liquid:solid = 3:7) achieves an optimal balance of high dielectric constant and low modulus. The dielectric constant reaches 4.0 (46% higher than pure PMVS), while the maximum actuation strain increases to 45.4%—50% higher than the solid PMVS baseline—delivering a high energy density of 20.5 mJ/g. This approach, integrating covalent interfacial bonding and homologous plasticization, offers a simple yet effective route to high-performance silicone-based dielectric elastomer actuators for soft robotics and artificial muscles.
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