Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
5 years ago

Programmable and functional electrothermal bimorph actuators based on large-area anisotropic carbon nanotube paper.

Qingwei Li, Changhong Liu, Shoushan Fan
The electro-active polymer (EAP) actuators, such as electronic, ionic and electrothermal (ET) actuators, have become the important branch of next-generation soft actuators in bionic robotics. However, most reported EAP actuators could only realize simple movements which are restricted by the small area of flexible electrodes and simple designs. Herein, we prepared large-area flexible electrodes with high anisotropy made of oriented carbon nanotube (CNT) paper, and carried out artful graphic designs and processing on the electrodes to make functional ET bimorph actuators which can realize large bending deformations (over 220°, curvature > 1.5 cm<sup>-1</sup>) and bionic movements driven by electricity. The anisotropy of CNT paper benefits electrode designs and multiform actuations for complex actuators. Based on the large-area CNT paper, more interesting and functional actuators can be designed and prepared which will have practical applications in the fields of artificial muscles, complicated actuations, soft and bionic robotics.

Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/aaaf18

DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aaaf18

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