Abstract: A method of fabricating a microchannel device is provided. The method includes determining, based on a plurality of design criteria, a microchannel vascular network design. The microchannel vascular network design includes a first channel network, a second microchannel network based on the first channel network, and a structure for providing fluidic communication through between the first channel network and the second channel network. The method includes receiving, in electronic form, the microchannel vascular network design at a fabrication system. The fabrication system comprises a pre-polymer solution. The method includes forming, based on the microchannel vascular network design, a microchannel vascular network device of a polymer material at the fabrication system using the pre-polymer solution, thereby fabricating the microchannel vascular network device.

Abstract: An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The nanovoided polymer element may be located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids. In some examples, anisotropic voids may be elongated along one or more directions. In some examples, the anisotropic voids are configured so that a polymer wall thickness between neighboring voids is generally uniform. Example devices may include a spatially addressable electroactive device, such as an actuator or a sensor, and/or may include an optical element. A nanovoided polymer layer may include one or more polymer components, such as an electroactive polymer.

Abstract: An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, which may be located at least in part between the electrodes. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids, including a gas, and separated from each other by polymer walls. The device may be an electroactive device, such as an actuator having a response time for a transition between actuation states. The gas may have a characteristic diffusion time (e.g., to diffuse half the mean wall thickness through the polymer walls) that is less than the response time. The nanovoids may be sufficiently small (e.g., below 1 micron in diameter or an analogous dimension), and/or the polymer walls may be sufficiently thin, such that the gas interchange between gas in the voids and gas absorbed by the polymer walls may occur faster than the response time, and in some examples, effectively instantaneously.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a microchannel device is provided. The method includes determining, based on a plurality of design criteria, a microchannel vascular network design. The microchannel vascular network design includes a first channel network, a second microchannel network based on the first channel network, and a structure for providing fluidic communication through between the first channel network and the second channel network. The method includes receiving, in electronic form, the microchannel vascular network design at a fabrication system. The fabrication system comprises a pre-polymer solution. The method includes forming, based on the microchannel vascular network design, a microchannel vascular network device of a polymer material at the fabrication system using the pre-polymer solution, thereby fabricating the microchannel vascular network device.

Abstract: An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The nanovoided polymer element may be located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids. In some examples, anisotropic voids may be elongated along one or more directions. In some examples, the anisotropic voids are configured so that a polymer wall thickness between neighboring voids is generally uniform. Example devices may include a spatially addressable electroactive device, such as an actuator or a sensor, and/or may include an optical element. A nanovoided polymer layer may include one or more polymer components, such as an electroactive polymer.

Abstract: An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, which may be located at least in part between the electrodes. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids, including a gas, and separated from each other by polymer walls. The device may be an electroactive device, such as an actuator having a response time for a transition between actuation states. The gas may have a characteristic diffusion time (e.g., to diffuse half the mean wall thickness through the polymer walls) that is less than the response time. The nanovoids may be sufficiently small (e.g., below 1 micron in diameter or an analogous dimension), and/or the polymer walls may be sufficiently thin, such that the gas interchange between gas in the voids and gas absorbed by the polymer walls may occur faster than the response time, and in some examples, effectively instantaneously.