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Abstract

Electroactive polymers (EAPs) can undergo large shape and volume changes in response to stimuli such as electric fields, humidity, light, and temperature—unlike traditional ceramics or metals. However, their performance is often limited by rigid electrodes, especially in dielectric elastomers. The development of compliant electrodes has been key to overcoming this limitation, enabling practical applications of EAPs. Advances in multi-material 3D printing and microfabrication now allow precise integration of electrodes with soft polymers, expanding their use in soft robotics, tunable optics, and acoustics. This talk highlights recent progress, including micro-machined electro-thermal actuators, stretchable thin-film electrodes for optical and acoustic tuning, hygromorphic conductive polymers for sensing, and hyperelastic EAPs for robotic actuation. Understanding the interaction between electrodes and EAPs is critical for future applications such as artificial muscles and smart, responsive building systems.