Large deformation and electrochemistry of polyelectrolyte gels
Immersed in an ionic solution, a network of polyelectrolyte polymers imbibes the solution and swells, resulting in a polyelectrolyte gel. The swelling is reversible, and is regulated by ionic...
View ArticleFormation of creases on the surfaces of elastomers and gels
When a block of an elastomer is bent, the compressed surface may form a crease. This paper analyzes the critical condition for creasing by comparing the elastic energy in a creased body and that in a...
View ArticleElectric-field-induced antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase transition in...
The electric-field-induced phase transition was investigated under mechanical confinements in bulk samples of an antiferroelectric perovskite oxide at room temperature. Profound impacts of mechanical...
View ArticleSurface interactions between two like-charged polyelectrolyte gels
Due to the migration of mobile molecules and ions, a thin diffusive layer of distributed charge - the electric double layer - forms at the interface between a polyelectrolyte gel and a liquid ionic...
View ArticleModeling Viscoelastic Dielectrics
Dielectric elastomer, as an important category of electroactive polymers, is known to have viscoelastic properties that strongly affect its dynamic performance and limit its application. Very few...
View ArticleA Theory of Ionic Polymer Conductor Network Composite
Ionic polymer conductor network composite (IPCNC) is a mixed conductor consisting of a network of loaded ionomer and another network of metallic particles. It is known that the microstructure of the...
View ArticleCoupled magnetic field and viscoelasticity of ferrogel
Composed of a soft polymer matrix and magnetic filler particles, ferrogel is a smart material responsive to magnetic fields. Due to the viscoelasticity of the matrix, the behaviors of ferrogel are...
View ArticleField-stiffening effect of magneto-rheological elastomers
Magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) are a class of soft active materials known for their tunable stiffness. Dispersed with magnetic particles, these polymer-based composites tend to be stiffer under...
View ArticleModeling mechano-chromatic lamellar gels
Consisting of alternating swelling and nonswelling polymeric layers (SLs and NLs), lamellar gels are 1D photonic crystals with tunable optical properties. The lamellar structure induces a constraint...
View ArticleJournal Club Theme of September 2012: Fracture of polymeric gels
A polymeric gel consists of a polymer network swollen by small solvent molecules. It could be synthesized from a monomer solution through gelation or from a dry elastomer directly through swelling....
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