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Optically driven nanotube actuators
Optically driven actuators have been fabricated from single-wall carbon nanotube-polymer composite sheets. Like natural muscles, the millimetre-scale actuators are assemblies of millions of individual nanotube actuators processed into macroscopic length scales and bonded to an acrylic elastomer shee...
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Published in: | Nanotechnology 2005-11, Vol.16 (11), p.2548-2554 |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Optically driven actuators have been fabricated from single-wall carbon nanotube-polymer composite sheets. Like natural muscles, the millimetre-scale actuators are assemblies of millions of individual nanotube actuators processed into macroscopic length scales and bonded to an acrylic elastomer sheet to form an actuator that have been shown to generate higher stress than natural muscles and higher strains than high-modulus piezoelectric materials. Strain measurements revealed 0.01%-0.3% elastic strain generated due to electrostatic and thermal effects under visible light intensities of 5-120 mW cm-2. An optically actuated nanotube gripper is demonstrated to show manipulation of small objects. This actuation technology overcomes some of the fundamental limitations such as the use of high voltages or electrochemical solutions for actuation, opening up possibilities for remote light-induced actuation technologies. |
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ISSN: | 0957-4484 1361-6528 |
DOI: | 10.1088/0957-4484/16/11/014 |