Electro-active papers: Its possibility as actuators

This paper examines the possibility of the Electro-Active Papers (EAPap) as actuators. EAPap was prepared by gluing two silver laminated papers in opposite direction so as to constitute electrodes outside. When an electric voltage was applied on the electrodes the EAPap produces bending displacement. The performance of the EAPap is dependent on the glue types, applied voltage and excitation frequency. To investigate the operational principle of the EAPap, some experiments were conducted with different adhesives and host papers, and we believe that it is based on the electrostriction effect associated with a combination of the electrostatic force of electrodes and the intermolecular interaction of the adhesive. Further investigations to improve and stabilize the EAPap properties are necessary and some remarks for future research are provided. Since the EAPap are quite simple to fabricate and lightweight, various fields of them are applicable, i.e, flexible speakers, active sound absorbing materials and smart shape control devices.