2026-10-14T04:40:19Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33442831 2026-09-30T20:46:08Z category_26749 category_26527 category_26689 category_25171 portal_12 item_type_1 month_year_09_2026

Robin Milward Cooney: Barely Conductive Robin Milward Cooney (17139148) Materials engineering not elsewhere classified Electronics, sensors and digital hardware not elsewhere classified Manufacturing engineering not elsewhere classified Macromolecular and materials chemistry not elsewhere classified Laser Induced Graphene Polyimide Electrohydraulic actuators Soft robotics Flexible electronics Electrical conductivity <p dir="ltr">Barely Conductive captures the boundary between an electrical insulator and a functional conductor. This 10x microscope image shows laser induced graphene formed when a laser converts the surface of Kapton, a flexible polymer, into carbon-rich tracks. The dark islands are partially carbonised regions; the bright channels between them reveal where conversion is incomplete. My research investigates how laser power, scanning speed and polymer thickness control this transformation, with the goal of directly writing compliant electrodes onto films used in electrohydraulic actuators. These soft devices move by redistributing liquid under high voltage and could enable lightweight robots, wearable technologies and artificial muscles. The image exposes a critical manufacturing moment: too little energy leaves disconnected carbon, while too much can damage the polymer.</p> 2026-09-30T20:46:08Z Image Figure 10.17608/k6.auckland.33442831.v2 https://figshare.com/articles/figure/Barely_Conductive/33442831 CC BY 4.0