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Updated: May 20, 2026
Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators
Published on: April 25, 2020
A novel electromechanical actuation mechanism of a carbon nanotube fiber
Wenhan Guo1, Chao Liu, Fangyuan Zhao
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular, Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science and Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China.
Abstract:
A spun carbon nanotube fiber functions as a torsional actuator in almost all available environmental media such as air, water, organic solvents, and electrolyte solutions. The Ampere's Law among helically aligned carbon nanotubes explains the simultaneous occurrence of lengthwise contraction and rotary torsion upon applying a low current. The produced stress is over 100 times that of the strongest natural skeletal muscle with high reversibility and good stability. The use of torsional fibers for electric motors is demonstrated.
