Developing a sensor, actuator, and nanoskin based on carbon nanotube arrays

摘要

This paper describes progress in development of a sensor-actuator-nanoskin material based on multi-wall carbon nanotube arrays. This material can have individual sensing, actuation, or reinforcement properties, or the material may have combined multi-functional properties. The sensing and actuation properties are based on the theoretical telescoping property of multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The sensing property has been demonstrated in the literature. The actuation property is modeled in this paper but not demonstrated. Work is described that later may verify the actuation. Nanoskin samples are also fabricated and tested for mechanical, hydrophobicity, and capillarity properties. Overall, synthesis of dense arrays of long multi-wall carbon nanotubes is opening the door for the development of novel sensors, actuators, and multifunctional smart materials.