Utilizing ionic liquid networks to explore fundamental principles in soft electro-adhesion

Ion-conducting polymers show potential for designing new classes of soft robotics and interfaces. Understanding soft material interfaces is particularly important in electro-adhesion, a mechanism that enables controllable and switchable adhesion via an electric field. Although previous contributions have provided insight into how applied voltage and interfacial attraction forces affect electro-adhesive performance, a general framework that unites the far-field materials properties, applied voltage, and geometric constraints has not been developed. We utilize two cross-linked ionic liquid networks, coined “ionoelastomers”, that exhibit modular and switchable electro-adhesion through an applied bias via the formation of an interfacial ionic double layer (IDL). We present a predictive model for electro-adhesion that captures the force capacity as a function of voltage, elastic modulus, interfacial dimensions, and sample thickness. Our results carry significant implications to guide electro-adhesive materials and device design to use ion-conducting networks for low power consumption and energy dissipation.