The evolution of ionic polymer metal composites towards greener transducers

The implementation of Industry 4.0 and IoT will require the availability of large-mass production electronics. The infusion of intelligence, required for realizing smart grids, cities, homes, and cars, just to mention a few, will encourage the ubiquitous diffusion of electronics in everyday life. Think, e.g., to the evolution of cellular phone complexity, or of smart domestic appliances. The need for intelligent applications will not be limited to our cities or homes. Precise agriculture will, e.g, require a massive diffusion of smart devices, which will be required for monitoring the wellness of each plant. In a similar way, smartness is required for the continuous monitoring of the healthiness and safety of large infrastructures such as dams or viaducts, just to mention a few.