Here we report a nanofluidics approach that allows one to discriminate, for the first time, between static and kinetic effects on the crystallization of polymers in 2-dimensional nanoconfinement. Nanofluidics cells designed to monitor in real time, via permittivity measurements, the flow process of polymers into cylindrical nanopores were employed to investigate the crystallization of poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) under static and under kinetic confinement conditions. A significant separation between static confinement effects and flow effects in confinement is reported. A characteristic time is deduced, to quantify the impact of flow on the crystallization process of polymers taking place under conditions of 2D geometrical nanoconfinement.
high-bandwidth communication, civil space surveillance technologies, wireless optical communication systems (UV and free-space systems), hyper-aperture multimirror structures, geoengineering (space mirror), and astronomical systems. [1,2] In particular the light-gathering power of an optical telescope, its "light grasp" or aperture gain, is one of the most important features of a telescope, [3] which requires very precise glass mirror technology.Recently, we have proposed a "World's Largest Telescope" for achieving highcontrast observations that could use this technology. [4][5][6] Such an optical system will be limited by the cost and manufacturability of large mirrors. The work described here, optics fabricated from an optimized electroactive polymer (EAP), could enable optics like these. The new approach will extend conventional active mirror technologies to larger smooth optical surfaces, without abrasive polishing. This means it will be possible to create precisely shaped low scattered light mirrors-suitable to astronomical applications-faster and at lower production costs. Our long-term vision for the new technology is to decrease the mass density (and cost) of mirrors by an order of magnitude.The idea of using force actuator-sensors fabricated from EAPs [3,4] is developed in this work in order to achieve active mirror surface shape control. By manipulating EAPs as active supports, integrated into the mirror structure allows correcting the mirror shape with a continuous actuator force distribution. Figure 1 illustrates how EAPs behave as elastic electromechanical deforming springs. This "electrical polishing" can correct surface shape errors that would be conventionally removed by abrasive grinding. To achieve high optical mirror quality surfaces with a thickness of a few millimeters the EAP glass deformation must have a dynamic range of few microns corresponding to actuator forces of about 1 N. The technique we propose could potentially be achieved using only additive manufacturing via 3D-printing technology.In this article we aim to present the EAP concept for Live-Mirror active optics. We evaluate different polymers in specific actuator designs in order to test their mechanical actuation properties for mirror-actuator prototypes. This article focuses on EAP-based actuator basic properties. Future work will explore how EAP sensors can be integrated into mirror systems.
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