Voltage tuning of the resonance frequency of electroactive polymer membranes over a range of more than 75%

Philippe Dubois; Samuel Rosset; Muhamed Niklaus; Herbert Shea

doi:10.1117/12.820243

18 May 2009 Voltage tuning of the resonance frequency of electroactive polymer membranes over a range of more than 75%

Philippe Dubois, Samuel Rosset, Muhamed Niklaus, Herbert Shea

Proceedings Volume 7362, Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS IV; 73620F (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.820243
Event: SPIE Europe Microtechnologies for the New Millennium, 2009, Dresden, Germany

Abstract

We report on a novel technique to control the resonance frequency of polymer membranes, without additional external actuators. An electrostatic force is used to apply compressive stress to a dielectric electroactive polymers membrane, consisting of a 25 micron thick, 1 to 4 mm diameter, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film bonded onto patterned silicon or Pyrex wafers. Both sides of the membranes are rendered conductive by low-energy metal ion implantation. Ion implantation is chosen because it stiffens the membrane much less than sputtering a film of similar thickness [1][2]. The initial resonance frequency of the membrane is given by its geometry, the Young's modulus and stress of the composite film. The technique presented here allows tuning the resonance frequency from this initial value down to zero (at the buckling threshold) by adding compressive stress due to a voltage difference applied to the electrodes on both sides of the membrane. We have measured a reduction of the first mode resonance frequency of up to 77% (limited by dielectric breakdown) for ion-implanted membranes [3]. The tuning is repeatable and allows for continuous variation. Excellent agreement was found between our measurements and an analytical model we developed based on the Rayleigh-Ritz theory.

Citation Download Citation

Philippe Dubois, Samuel Rosset, Muhamed Niklaus, and Herbert Shea "Voltage tuning of the resonance frequency of electroactive polymer membranes over a range of more than 75%", Proc. SPIE 7362, Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS IV, 73620F (18 May 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.820243

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