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Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators
Published on: April 25, 2020
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Carbon Nanotube Artificial Muscles Multistimuli Actuation Mechanisms and Emerging Applications
Chaehee Kim1,2, Sihyeok Kim1, Siun Kim1,3
1Department of Nano Engineering, Department of Nano Science and Technology, SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|December 31, 2025
Summary
Carbon nanotube (CNT) artificial muscles offer advanced soft actuation for robotics and medicine. Future research focuses on optimizing nanoscale parameters and stimuli for enhanced performance and commercial viability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Robotics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based artificial muscles are emerging soft actuators with significant potential.
- They exhibit exceptional mechanical properties and respond to various stimuli, making them suitable for advanced applications.
- Existing designs range from simple sheets to complex core-sheath and hybrid architectures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the design space and actuation mechanisms of CNT-based artificial muscles.
- To summarize working principles, performance trade-offs, and strategies for multifunctional operation.
- To highlight key breakthroughs, emerging applications, and future research opportunities.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of existing literature on CNT artificial muscles.
- Categorization of designs based on structure (sheets, yarns, core-sheath, hybrids).
- Organization of actuation mechanisms by stimulus type (voltage-driven electrochemical, thermal, photothermal, solvent-assisted).
Main Results:
- Detailed mapping of design variations and their impact on tensile and torsional actuation.
- Summary of performance characteristics and limitations for different actuation mechanisms.
- Highlighting of successful strategies like unipolar actuation, solid-state designs, and core-sheath architectures.
Conclusions:
- CNT artificial muscles show promise for soft robotics, biomedical devices, and smart textiles.
- Challenges remain in scalable manufacturing, long-term stability, and biocompatibility.
- Further research in nanoscale optimization and novel stimuli is crucial for unlocking full potential and commercialization.
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