@article{KolloscheDoeringStumpeetal.2011, author = {Kollosche, Matthias and D{\"o}ring, Sebastian and Stumpe, Joachim and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Voltage-controlled compression for period tuning of optical surface relief gratings}, series = {OPTICS LETTERS}, volume = {36}, journal = {OPTICS LETTERS}, number = {8}, publisher = {OPTICAL SOC AMER}, address = {WASHINGTON}, issn = {0146-9592}, pages = {1389 -- 1391}, year = {2011}, abstract = {This Letter reports on new methods and a consistent model for voltage tunable optical transmission gratings. Elastomeric gratings were molded from holographically written surface relief gratings in an azobenzene sol-gel material. These were placed on top of a transparent electroactive elastomeric substrate. Two different electro-active substrate elastomers were employed, with a large range of prestretches. A novel finite-deformation theory was found to match the device response excellently, without fitting parameters. The results clearly show that the grating underwent pure-shear deformation, and more surprisingly, that the mechanical properties of the electro-active substrate did not affect device actuation. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America}, language = {en} } @article{KolloscheStoyanovLaflammeetal.2011, author = {Kollosche, Matthias and Stoyanov, Hristiyan and Laflamme, Simon and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Strongly enhanced sensitivity in elastic capacitive strain sensors}, series = {Journal of materials chemistry}, volume = {21}, journal = {Journal of materials chemistry}, number = {23}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0959-9428}, doi = {10.1039/c0jm03786a}, pages = {8292 -- 8294}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Strain sensors based on dielectric elastomer capacitors function by the direct coupling of mechanical deformations with the capacitance. The coupling can be improved by enhancing the relative permittivity of the dielectric elastomer. Here, this is carried out through the grafting of conducting polymer (poly-aniline) to the elastomer backbone, leading to molecular composites. An enhancement in capacitance response of 46 times is observed. This could help to extend the possible range of miniaturization towards even smaller device features.}, language = {en} } @article{AhnertAbelKolloscheetal.2011, author = {Ahnert, Karsten and Abel, Markus and Kollosche, Matthias and Jorgensen, Per Jorgen and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Soft capacitors for wave energy harvesting}, series = {Journal of materials chemistry}, volume = {21}, journal = {Journal of materials chemistry}, number = {38}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0959-9428}, doi = {10.1039/c1jm12454d}, pages = {14492 -- 14497}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Wave energy harvesting could be a substantial renewable energy source without impact on the global climate and ecology, yet practical attempts have struggled with the problems of wear and catastrophic failure. An innovative technology for ocean wave energy harvesting was recently proposed, based on the use of soft capacitors. This study presents a realistic theoretical and numerical model for the quantitative characterization of this harvesting method. Parameter regions with optimal behavior are found, and novel material descriptors are determined, which dramatically simplify analysis. The characteristics of currently available materials are evaluated, and found to merit a very conservative estimate of 10 years for raw material cost recovery.}, language = {en} } @article{KofodStoyanovGerhard2011, author = {Kofod, Guggi and Stoyanov, Hristiyan and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {Multilayer coaxial fiber dielectric elastomers for actuation and sensing}, series = {Applied physics : A, Materials science \& processing}, volume = {102}, journal = {Applied physics : A, Materials science \& processing}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0947-8396}, doi = {10.1007/s00339-010-6066-5}, pages = {577 -- 581}, year = {2011}, abstract = {A simple dip-coating technique was employed to manufacture coaxial actuators with multiple layers of alternating dielectric and conducting layers. A thin rubber string was coated with an electrode-insulator-electrode structure, giving rise to a thin, fiber-like actuator with coaxial geometry. The process was repeated to achieve a compact multilayer actuator with up to three coaxial dielectric layers. Mechanical and electromechanical characterization of the actuators is presented, showing actuation strains up to 8\% and proper voltage-thickness scaling behavior. Also presented is a capacitance vs. extension plot, demonstrating that these structures can be used for compact and accurate capacitive strain sensing.}, language = {en} } @article{KussmaulRisseKofodetal.2011, author = {Kussmaul, Bjoern and Risse, Sebastian and Kofod, Guggi and Wache, Remi and Wegener, Michael and McCarthy, Denis N. and Kr{\"u}ger, Hartmut and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {Enhancement of dielectric permittivity and electromechanical response in silicone elastomers molecular grafting of organic dipoles to the macromolecular Network}, series = {Advanced functional materials}, volume = {21}, journal = {Advanced functional materials}, number = {23}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1616-301X}, doi = {10.1002/adfm.201100884}, pages = {4589 -- 4594}, year = {2011}, abstract = {A novel method is established for permittivity enhancement of a silicone matrix for dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) by molecular level modifications of the elastomer matrix. A push-pull dipole is synthesized to be compatible with the silicone crosslinking chemistry, allowing for direct grafting to the crosslinker molecules in a one-step film formation process. This method prevents agglomeration and yields elastomer films that are homogeneous down to the molecular level. The dipole-to-silicone network grafting reaction is studied by FTIR. The chemical, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of films with dipole contents ranging from 0 wt\% to 13.4 wt\% were thoroughly characterized. The grafting of dipoles modifies the relative permittivity and the stiffness, resulting in the actuation strain at a given electrical field being improved by a factor of six.}, language = {en} } @article{DoeringKolloscheRabeetal.2011, author = {D{\"o}ring, Sebastian and Kollosche, Matthias and Rabe, Torsten and Stumpe, Joachim and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Electrically tunable polymer DFB laser}, series = {Advanced materials}, volume = {23}, journal = {Advanced materials}, number = {37}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {0935-9648}, doi = {10.1002/adma.201102465}, pages = {4265 -- 4269}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @article{StoyanovKolloscheRisseetal.2011, author = {Stoyanov, Hristiyan and Kollosche, Matthias and Risse, Sebastian and McCarthy, Denis N. and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Elastic block copolymer nanocomposites with controlled interfacial interactions for artificial muscles with direct voltage control}, series = {Soft matter}, volume = {7}, journal = {Soft matter}, number = {1}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1744-683X}, doi = {10.1039/c0sm00715c}, pages = {194 -- 202}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Soft, physically crosslinking, block copolymer elastomers were filled with surface-treated nanoparticles, in order to evaluate the possibility for improvement of their properties when used as soft dielectric actuators. The nanoparticles led to improvements in dielectric properties, however they also reinforced the elastomer matrix. Comparing dielectric spectra of composites with untreated and surface-treated particles showed a measurable influence of the surface on the dielectric loss behaviour for high filler amounts, strongly indicating an improved host-guest interaction for the surface-treated particles. Breakdown strength was measured using a test bench and was found to be in good agreement with the results from the actuation measurements. Actuation responses predicted by a model for prestrained actuators agreed well with measurements up to a filler amount of 20\%(vol). Strong improvements in actuation behaviour were observed, with an optimum near 15\%(vol) nanoparticles, corresponding to a reduction in electrical field of 27\% for identical actuation strains. The use of physically crosslinking elastomer ensured the mechanical properties of the matrix elastomer were unchanged by nanoparticles effecting the crosslinking reaction, contrary to similar experiments performed with chemically crosslinking elastomers. This allows for a firm conclusion about the positive effects of surface-treated nanoparticles on actuation behavior.}, language = {en} } @article{KofodRisseStoyanovetal.2011, author = {Kofod, Guggi and Risse, Sebastian and Stoyanov, Hristiyan and McCarthy, Denis N. and Sokolov, Sergey and Kr{\"a}hnert, Ralph}, title = {Broad-spectrum enhancement of polymer composite dielectric constant at ultra low volume fractions of silica-supported copper nanoparticles}, series = {ACS nano}, volume = {5}, journal = {ACS nano}, number = {3}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1936-0851}, doi = {10.1021/nn103097q}, pages = {1623 -- 1629}, year = {2011}, abstract = {A new strategy for the synthesis of high permittivity polymer composites is demonstrated based on well-defined spatial distribution of ultralow amounts of conductive nanoparticles. The spatial distribution Was realized by immobilizing Cu nanoparticles within the pore system of Alia microspheres, preventing direct contact between individual Cu particles. Both Cu-loaded and unloaded silica microspheres were-then used as fillers in polymer composites prepared with thermoplastic SEBS rubber is the matrix. With a metallic Cu content of about 0.26 vol \% In the compoilte, a relative increase of 94\% In real permittivity was obtained. No Cu-induced relaxations were observed in the dielectric spectrum within the studied frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 1 MHz. When related to the amount of conductive nanoparticles, the obtained composites achieve the highest broad spectrum enhancement of permittivity ever reported for a polymer based composite.}, language = {en} } @article{JordanMcCarthySchleppleetal.2011, author = {Jordan, Grace and McCarthy, Denis N. and Schlepple, N. and Krissler, Jan and Schroeder, H. and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Actuated micro-optical submount using a dielectric elastomer actuator}, series = {IEEE ASME transactions on mechatronics}, volume = {16}, journal = {IEEE ASME transactions on mechatronics}, number = {1}, publisher = {Inst. of Electr. and Electronics Engineers}, address = {Piscataway}, issn = {1083-4435}, doi = {10.1109/TMECH.2010.2089991}, pages = {98 -- 102}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Analysis of the operating characteristics of a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) submount for the high-precision positioning of optical components in one dimension is presented. Precise alignment of a single-mode fiber is demonstrated and variation of the sensitivity of the submount motion by changing the bias voltage is confirmed. A comparison of the performance of the DEA submount with a piezoelectric alignment stage is made, which demonstrates that DEAs could present a very attractive, low-cost alternative to currently used manual technologies in overcoming the hurdle of expensive packaging of single-mode optical components.}, language = {en} }