Nanovoided polymers having shaped voids

A device comprising:

• a nanovoided polymer element comprising an arrangement of nanovoids within a polymer matrix;
• a first electrode;
• and
• a second electrode, wherein
• the nanovoided polymer element is located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode,
• the arrangement of nanovoids include non-spherical nanovoids configured so that polymer wall thicknesses between neighboring nanovoids are generally uniform, and
• the device is a sensor or an actuator.

A method of operating a device, the method comprising:

• applying an electric field between a first electrode and a second electrode of the device, wherein the electric field induces a contraction of an anisotropic nanovoided polymer located, at least in part, between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• and
• mechanically coupling the contraction to a haptic output, wherein
• the device is a haptic device,
• the contraction of the anisotropic nanovoided polymer along the electric field includes a deformation of anisotropic nanovoids, and
• the anisotropic nanovoids are elongated in at least one direction perpendicular to the electric field.