Fully functionalized high-dielectric-constant nanophase polymers with high electromechanical response

A novel approach to synthesize fully functionalized high-dielectric- constant nanophase polymers with high electromechanical response was investigated. In this approach, high-dielectric-constant copper phthalocyanine oligomers and/or conductive polyaniline oligomers were chemically grafted to polyurethane backbones that resulted in fully functionalized nanophase polymers. The high degree of grafting caused the reduction in oligomer phase size. The high-dielectric-constant nanophase polymers exhibited an order-of-magnitude reduction or more in the applied field, while achieving high strain levels and elastic energy densities similar to those of single-phase electroactive polymer.