title: The Current State of Silicone-Based Dielectric Elastomer Transducers.
abstract: Silicone elastomers are promising materials for dielectric elastomer transducers (DETs) due to their superior properties such as high efficiency, reliability and fast response times. DETs consist of thin elastomer films sandwiched between compliant electrodes, and they constitute an interesting class of transducer due to their inherent lightweight and potentially large strains. For the field to progress towards industrial implementation, a leap in material development is required, specifically targeting longer lifetime and higher energy densities to provide more efficient transduction at lower driving voltages. In this review, the current state of silicone elastomers for DETs is summarised and critically discussed, including commercial elastomers, composites, polymer blends, grafted elastomers and complex network structures. For future developments in the field it is essential that all aspects of the elastomer are taken into account, namely dielectric losses, lifetime and the very often ignored polymer network integrity and stability.
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Søltofts Plads, building 227, 2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Frederikke B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Søltofts Plads, building 227, 2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Daugaard
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Søltofts Plads, building 227, 2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hvilsted
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Søltofts Plads, building 227, 2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Skov
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D012826:Silicone Elastomers
keywords: dielectric; elastomers; electromechanical; silicone; transducers