Carbon Nanostructures for Actuators: An Overview of Recent Developments

Abstract

In recent decades, micro and nanoscale technologies have become cutting-edge frontiers in material science and device developments. This worldwide trend has induced further improvements in actuator production with enhanced performance. A main role has been played by nanostructured carbon-based materials, i.e., carbon nanotubes and graphene, due to their intrinsic properties and easy functionalization. Moreover, the nanoscale decoration of these materials has led to the design of doped and decorated carbon-based devices effectively used as actuators incorporating metals and metal-based structures. This review provides an overview and discussion of the overall process for producing AC actuators using nanostructured, doped, and decorated carbon materials. It highlights the differences and common aspects that make carbon materials one of the most promising resources in the field of actuators.

Novel Stimuli‐Responsive Turbostratic Oxides/Hydroxides for Material‐Driven Robots

“…Dielectric elastomers are passive dielectric films strainable by the electrostatic force between a pair of sandwiching electrodes. [8][9][10][11][12] Other actuating materials responsive to electrical signals require a "wet" electrochemical environment to operate: conducting polymers [13][14][15][16][17] rely on a redox reaction in an electrolytic environment to induce ionic transport within the material to produce straining (Figure 1b), and nanostructured carbon materials [carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene] [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] and noble metals [32][33][34][35][36] also actuate in a liquid electrolyte by virtue of electric double-layer formation on the solid wall to induce straining of the latter (Figure 1c). In addition to electrical or electrochemical stimuli, other materials are responsive to water/humidity, heat, or light.…”

Routes to magnetic graphene: from the decoration with nanoparticles to the symmetric broken bonds of its honeycomb lattice

“…IUPAC recommends the name "graphite" for the three-dimensional material, and "graphene" only when the properties of the individual layers are considered. However, besides for the single layer, in literature we can find the term "graphene" also used for a multilayer carbon sheet, because a good single layer of graphene free from defects is hard to create and manipulate (Giorcelli & Bartoli, 2019).…”

The Routes to Magnetic Graphene, from Decorations with Nanoparticles to the Broken Symmetry of its Honeycomb Lattice Bonds

“…The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, IUPAC, recommends the name "graphite" for the three-dimensional material, and "graphene" only when the properties of the individual layers are considered. However, besides for the single layer, in literature we can find the term "graphene" also used for a multilayer carbon sheet, because a good single layer of graphene free from defects is hard to create and manipulate (Giorcelli & Bartoli, 2019).…”