Frontier in Magneto-/ Electro-Active Elastomers

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the interest in soft robotics is accelerating with the advancement in robotics, increasing concern regarding human-machine interactions and various possibilities offered by the smart/responsive materials that can sense and respond to external stimuli such as magnetic/electric field, humidity, pH, and temperature. Soft and active materials such as magneto-active polymers (MAPs) and electro-active polymers (EAPs) possess a huge potential in soft robotics due to their various appealing advantages such as remote contactless actuation with multiple actuation modes, high actuation strain and strain rate, self-sensing, silent operation, high energy density and fast response.

Soft magneto-active and electro-active polymers are usually composed of an elastomeric matrix and embedded inclusions, for example, magnetic fillers such as carbonyl iron powders, iron (II, III) oxides and electric fillers such as barium titanate and carbon nanotubes. With various features such as simplicity in fabrication and implementation, softness and even biocompatibility, these active materials have been implemented in a number of different applications such as smart haptics, smart vibration/acoustics, optical device, wearable sensors, and actuators and many more. Although having great potential for commercialization, most of the MAP and EAP systems are still laboratory-based prototypes and there is yet a big room for improvements to implement such outstanding multifunctional materials in industrial applications. The reasons behind this are their shortcoming in long-term reliability of device performance, degradation of the elastomer materials over an extended period of time, the requirement of high voltage/magnetic field, fabrication process not being aligned with current industrially available facilities, and so on. However, a plethora of remarkable successes in the field of MAPs and EAPs can be seen in recent years via a synergistic utilization of various polymeric matrices, different fillers, and advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing.

This Special Issue calls for original research articles as well as state-of-the-art reviews, and short communications from researchers across the world in the field of magneto-active and electro-active polymers. The topic focus will be on advances in magneto-/ electro-active polymers including but not limited to novel material development, implementation of 3D/4D printing techniques, magneto-mechanical/electro-mechanical characterizations, modelling, magneto-electro coupling and innovative applications.

Dr. Anil K. Bastola
Dr. Milan Shrestha
Guest Editors

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