title: Torsional carbon nanotube artificial muscles.
abstract: Rotary motors of conventional design can be rather complex and are therefore difficult to miniaturize; previous carbon nanotube artificial muscles provide contraction and bending, but not rotation. We show that an electrolyte-filled twist-spun carbon nanotube yarn, much thinner than a human hair, functions as a torsional artificial muscle in a simple three-electrode electrochemical system, providing a reversible 15,000° rotation and 590 revolutions per minute. A hydrostatic actuation mechanism, as seen in muscular hydrostats in nature, explains the simultaneous occurrence of lengthwise contraction and torsional rotation during the yarn volume increase caused by electrochemical double-layer charge injection. The use of a torsional yarn muscle as a mixer for a fluidic chip is demonstrated.
authors: Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Javad
authors: J
authors: Foroughi
authors: Geoffrey M
authors: GM
authors: Spinks
authors: Gordon G
authors: GG
authors: Wallace
authors: Jiyoung
authors: J
authors: Oh
authors: Mikhail E
authors: ME
authors: Kozlov
authors: Shaoli
authors: S
authors: Fang
authors: Tissaphern
authors: T
authors: Mirfakhrai
authors: John D W
authors: JD
authors: Madden
authors: Min Kyoon
authors: MK
authors: Shin
authors: Seon Jeong
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Ray H
authors: RH
authors: Baughman
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D004566:Electrodes; D004573:Electrolytes; D009132:Muscles; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012399:Rotation; D019415:Torque; D054159:Torsion, Mechanical
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon