ACTUATOR FOR MANIPULATING A FLUID, COMPRISING AN ELECTRO-ACTIVE POLYMER OR AN ELECTRO-ACTIVE POLYMER COMPOSITION

摘要

The invention relates to a microfluidic device comprising an actuator for converting between mechanical and electrical energy comprising an electro-active polymer or electro-active polymer composition, wherein the stiffness of the actuator at or near a first surface or part thereof differs from the stiffness at or near a second surface or part thereof, or wherein the stiffness of the actuator at or near a first extremity differs from the stiffness at or near a second extremity. Preferably the polymer comprises (alkyl)acrylate units based on a monomer represented by formula I and/or formula II