Mechanically compliant electrodes and dielectric elastomers from PEG-PDMS copolymers

Soft conducting elastomers have been prepared from polydimethylsiloxane-polyethyleneglycol (PDMS-PEG) copolymer and surfactant-stabilized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The copolymer was chain-extended with PDMS of molecular weight 17.2 kg mol^-1 in order to obtain a crosslinkable PDMS with molecular weight around 20 – 30 kg mol^-1. MWCNTs were treated with surfactant and sonicated for better dispersion in the polymer matrix. The conductivity and mechanical properties of conducting elastomers were thoroughly investigated including stress and strain at break. The developed conducting elastomers showed high conductivity combined with inherent softness. The high conductivity and softness, PDMS-PEG copolymers with incorporated MWCNTs hold great promises as compliant and highly stretchable electrodes for stretchable devices such as electro-mechanical transducers.