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Pneumatic Carbon Nanotube Actuators
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2002
Year
EngineeringMechanical EngineeringChemical ActuatorMicroactuatorGas BubblesSoft RoboticsNanoelectronicsPneumatic-type ActuationCarbon NanotubesMaterials ScienceBiomimetic ActuatorActuationFlexible ElectronicsNanomaterialsApplied PhysicsPneumaticsNano Electro Mechanical SystemCarbon Single-wall NanotubesNanotubes
A new giant actuation mechanism is demonstrated for sheets of carbon single-wall nanotubes that produces a 3 % actuator stroke in the in-plane direction, and amplification to over 300 % in the thickness direction. Electrochemically generated gas bubbles form in the internal pores of the nanotube sheets (see Figure), producing a pneumatic-type actuation at low application voltages.