A device, such as an electroactive device, may include primary electrode and a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode. An electroactive polymer element may include a composite polymer material and is disposed between and abuts each of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. A phase change or other deformable medium such as a liquid, a gas, or a liquid-gas mixture may be disposed as inclusions within the polymer material. The device can be actuated by the application of a voltage between the electrodes and the attendant formation of a Maxwell stress, exposing the deformable medium to a source of radiation, changing a pressure of the deformable medium, or changing a temperature of the deformable medium, e.g., about a phase transformation temperature of the phase change medium.