Electroactive Polymers as Sensors

In this paragraph a short description of basic sensing properties of electroactive polymers is reported. In fact, they can also be used for different types of physical and chemical sensing, according to different effects, as described in the following. 

Sensing devices can be divided into active sensors and passive sensors. We classify here as active sensors those that intrinsically convert the input energy into a useful electrical potential difference. Differently, those sensors that require an external power source to convert the input into a usable output are 

Among the possible different types of sensing, the most advantageous for adaptronics are mentioned here. 

Piezoresistivity Strain Conductor-loaded rubbers Metals 

Thermoresistivity Bolometers Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) Metals 

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