title: Nanomechanical and electrical characterization of a new cellular electret sensor-actuator.
abstract: Electrically charged cellular polymers are known to display pseudo-piezoelectric effects that endow them with interesting mechano-electrical characteristics. When a film of such a polymer is compressed, charge is generated across its thickness, and conversely, applying an oscillatory or static potential elicits mechanical motions. This dual sensor-actuator behaviour can be embedded in one material and presents distinct advantages of functional integration. A novel electroactive foam is presented here that embeds such a sensor-actuator function. The foam has a sensitivity constant (d(33)) of 330 pC N(-1). Interestingly, the resonant behaviour of the cellular film can be altered by variation in the DC offset across the material. Such adaptive capacity could be of great advantage for tuning polymer-based mechanical devices to be either efficient sound radiators and mechanical actuators, or sensitive and coherent sensors. Possible applications in microfluidics are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK.
authors.forename: J F C
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Windmill
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zorab
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bedwell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robert