Piezoelectric polymer actuators

All inlqet-printed piezoelectric polymer actuators based on copolymers from vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene have been developed. The electrodes are printed from silver nanoparticle dispersions (27). 

An all-inkjet-printed piezoelectric polymer actuator for microfluidic environments (Pabst et al. 2014) illustrates the wide range of possibilities for manufacturing... 

Uroetani and Suzuki [37] described the design and fabrication of some piezoelectric polymer actuators for ipMial applkatioos. In particular, a composite micromanipulator, illustrated in Fig. 4. hM been realized using some bimorph PVDF dements. The microactuator assembly has three degrees of freedom and a gripper end. which is aUc lo grasp and position small objects within a volume of 330 X SOO X 150 un. Such structures, with linear dimensions ot few centimeters, can easily be used on the deck of a microscope. 

Polymers are promising candidates for new actuation technologies. Several classes of polymeric compounds can convert electrical energy (or other sources of energy, such as heat, light and chemical gradients) into mechanical work, so as to effect the movement of loads. Piezoelectric and shape memory polymers are among the most well known representatives of polymer actuators. 

Nilsson, E., et al., 2013. Poling and characterization of piezoelectric polymer fibers for use in textile sensors. Sensors Actuators A Phys. 201,477-486. 

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