A new technique for monitoring real-time dimensional changes in polymeric electromechanical actuators and vaporesistive sensors

Herein we report a laser micrometer-based technique to measure real-time di mensional changes occurring orthogonal to the surface of adsorbed polymer f ilms. With particular regard to electromechanical actuators, this technique compliments the widely used bending beam method (BBM). Advantages of this technique include facile integration of commercially available hardware, mi nimal restrictions on electrode composition, and detection limits within th e micrometer regime. The general utility of this technique to analyze polym ers exhibiting stimulus-induced dimensional changes is presented with an em phasis on electromechanical actuators and vaporesistive sensors. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.