Highly Responsive\nSoft Electrothermal Actuator with\nHigh-Output Force Based on Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-Coated Carbon\nNanotube (CNT) Sponge

Abstract

Recently, soft actuators have been found to have great\npotential\nfor various applications due to their ability to be mechanically reconfigured\nin response to external stimuli. However, the balance between output\nforce and considerable strain constrains their potential for further\napplication. In this work, a novel soft electrothermal actuator was\nfabricated by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated carbon nanotube\nsponge (CNTS). The results showed that CNTS was heated to 365 °C\nin ∼1 s when triggered by a voltage of 3.5 V. Consequently,\ndue to the large amount of air inside, the actuator expanded in 2.9\ns, lifting up to ∼50 times its weight, indicating an ultrafast\nresponse and powerful output force. In addition, even in water, the\nsoft actuator showed quick response at a voltage of 6 V. This air-expand\nstrategy and soft actuator design is believed to open a new horizon\nin the development of electronic textiles, smart soft robots, and\nso on.