Ultrasoft and fast self-healing poly(ionic liquid) electrode for dielectric elastomer actuators

Hui Wang, Adit Gupta, Qiuchun Lu, Wenting Wu, Xueyang Wang, Xin Huang, Xuanyi Hu and Pooi See Lee ()
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Hui Wang: Nanyang Technological University
Adit Gupta: Nanyang Technological University
Qiuchun Lu: Nanyang Technological University
Wenting Wu: Nanyang Technological University
Xueyang Wang: Nanyang Technological University
Xin Huang: Nanyang Technological University
Xuanyi Hu: Nanyang Technological University
Pooi See Lee: Nanyang Technological University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) exhibit large actuation strains, lightweight, and fast response, making them a promising candidate for soft robotics and soft grippers. Ionogels have been used as the electrodes in DEAs to offer thermostability and self-healability, however, typically the elastic modulus of the self-healing ionogel electrodes is of several tens of kPa (or higher), limiting the actuation strain performance and self-healing speed of the DEA. In this work, a poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) electrode with an ultralow elastic modulus of 3.4 kPa and rapid self-healing within 10 s in ambient and underwater conditions is achieved through ionic interaction regulation. The resultant DEAs realized an area strain of 63.2%, and maintained the strains after 10 s of self-healing at room temperature, outperforming other reported DEAs with self-healing electrodes. With the PIL electrode, a soft gripper composed of two bending DEAs is fabricated to gently handle soft and delicate objects in both air and underwater settings, retaining functionality even after damages due to self-healing of the PIL electrodes. The PIL electrode advances the development of electrically driven soft robotics for exploration in harsh environment or underwater settings.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62796-6

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