Advisor: Christoph Keplinger
Lab: Keplinger Research Group
Research: My lab focuses on advancing the performance of a type of artificial muscle (soft actuator) called HASELs. HASELs (Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing ELectrostatic actuators) are liquid-filled plastic pouches that are partially sandwiched between soft electrodes. The plastic and liquid are both electrically insulating, so the entire system acts as a capacitor surrounding a dielectric. HASELs undergo a shape change much like contracting muscle when an electric field is applied across the electrodes. This is due to the electrodes "zipping" together via electrostatic forces, which drives the liquid to an electrode-free region of the plastic pouch. The resulting shape change can be harnessed to lift weights, sense deformation, and provide haptic feedback, to name a few applications. My research aim is to investigate different plastic options that enhance the shape-changing abilities of HASELs, and to do this I study the effects of charge accumulation within plastic films under high voltage conditions.