Dielectric Electroactive Polymers: Outlook and Conclusions

A class of smart materials known as dielectric electroactive polymers show great promise for a wide range of applications in areas including soft robotics, sensors and actuators, energy harvesting, and biomedicine. With benefits including flexibility, low density, high energy density and electroactive response, dielectric electroactive polymers are regarded as promising materials for actuation and sensing. But there are still obstacles to overcome before they can be widely implemented. An overview of types, materials, and applications are provided in this chapter. The main challenges these materials still face are discussed, including their performance constraints and dependability problems. In order to support the wider use of these materials in practical applications, an overview on future research areas and approaches is provided.