title: Electrically, chemically, and photonically powered torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid carbon nanotube yarn muscles.
abstract: Artificial muscles are of practical interest, but few types have been commercially exploited. Typical problems include slow response, low strain and force generation, short cycle life, use of electrolytes, and low energy efficiency. We have designed guest-filled, twist-spun carbon nanotube yarns as electrolyte-free muscles that provide fast, high-force, large-stroke torsional and tensile actuation. More than a million torsional and tensile actuation cycles are demonstrated, wherein a muscle spins a rotor at an average 11,500 revolutions/minute or delivers 3% tensile contraction at 1200 cycles/minute. Electrical, chemical, or photonic excitation of hybrid yarns changes guest dimensions and generates torsional rotation and contraction of the yarn host. Demonstrations include torsional motors, contractile muscles, and sensors that capture the energy of the sensing process to mechanically actuate.
authors.affiliation: The Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75083, USA.
authors.forename: Márcio D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Mônica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung de Andrade
authors.forename: Shaoli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Spinks
authors.forename: Mikhail E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kozlov
authors.forename: Carter S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Dongseok
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foroughi
authors.forename: Seon Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.forename: Min Kyoon
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Leonardo D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Alexandre F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: John D W
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: Walter E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Voit
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: Ray H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Baughman
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D004560:Electricity; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D017785:Photons; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen