Electroactive Polymer-Based Smart Materials and Applications

Explore the future of smart materials with this guide to mastering the advanced fabrication techniques and molecular design strategies essential for developing high-performance, self-powered sensors and next-generation soft actuators.

Electroactive polymers are revolutionizing materials science with their unique ability to convert electrical energy into mechanical motion and vice versa. These smart materials are shaping the future of energy harvesting, flexible electronics, biomedical applications, and electromagnetic interference shielding. This book provides a thorough exploration of electroactive polymer composites, from their fundamental properties to advanced fabrication techniques. Covering key aspects such as dielectric behavior, thermal stability, and mechanical flexibility, it highlights how these materials are being integrated into emerging technologies like self-powered sensors, soft actuators, and next-generation medical devices. Designed for both researchers and industry professionals, this book bridges the gap between theory and application, delving into practical fabrication techniques, including electrospinning, solvent casting, and polymeric coatings to optimize material properties for specific applications. Additionally, it explores the latest advancements in nanocomposite reinforcements, doping strategies, and multifunctional coatings that enhance the performance of electroactive polymer-based devices. A resource for academics, engineers, and innovators in materials science, this book offers a comprehensive guide to the evolving landscape of electroactive polymers and their vast potential in modern technology.

Readers will find the volume:

• Comprehensively covers the physics, chemistry, and thermal behavior of electroactive polymers;
• Explores applications in energy harvesting, storage, and self-powered devices;
• Discusses electromagnetic shielding, sensors, actuators, and wearable electronics;
• Highlights emerging trends in the biomedical, aerospace, and flexible electronics industries.

Audience

Materials scientists, polymer chemists, electrical engineers, and nanotechnology researchers working in energy harvesting, flexible electronics, biomedical devices, and electromagnetic shielding technologies.

Raneesh Balakrishnan, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Catholicate College, Kerala, India. He has published more than 35 international research articles, co-edited eight books, and authored ten book chapters. His research areas primarily focus on multiferroics, nanoelectronics, polymer nanocomposites, electron microscopy, and nanobiotechnology.

Sobi K. Chacko, PhD is a researcher in the Department of Physics at Catholicate College, Kerala, India, specializing in materials science, with a focus in electroactive polymers, nanomaterials, and polymer-based composites. With extensive experience in designing multifunctional materials for energy harvesting and biomedical applications, she has contributed to various research projects in academia. She has also served as a guest faculty member in physics and mentored students in advanced materials science and nanotechnology.

Visakh P.M., PhD is working in the Natural Bioactive Materials Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Ege University, Turkey. He has edited 50 books, authored more than 25 books, published 23 journal articles, and 55 book chapters. His research interests include nanoparticle synthesis, material characterization, and nanostructured materials.