title: Twistable and bendable actuator: a CNT/polymer sandwich structure driven by thermal gradient.
abstract: We demonstrate a novel configuration of an electrothermal actuator (ETA), which is based on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) slab sandwiched by upper and lower active layers of CNT-PDMS composite. When only one active layer of a single sandwich structure ETA is heated and the other is not, there exists a thermal gradient in the direction of the slab thickness, resulting in bending motion toward the unheated side. Moreover, a dual sandwich structure ETA, consisting of two parallel assembled sandwich structures on the same body, has the unique ability to act with a twisting motion as the two ETAs bend in opposite directions. We expect the advent of the bendable and twistable actuator to break new ground in ETAs.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University Gwanak-ro 599, Sillim-dong, Kwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Kyun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Tae June
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Dae Weon
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Hyup
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim