A batch-fabricated laser-micromachined PDMS actuator with stamped carbon grease electrodes

In this note, we report on the development of a batch-fabricated laser-micromachined elastomeric cantilever actuator composed of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bilayer (active/inactive) and soft-lithographically patterned conductive carbon grease electrodes. The described unimorph structure has a low actuation voltage and large out-of-plane displacement. For a 4 mm long, 1 mm wide, and 80 µm thick actuator, an out-of-plane displacement of 1.2 mm and a maximum force of 25 µN were measured using 450 V actuation voltage.