Multiwalled carbon-nanotubes-sheet actuators

In this paper we present experimental measurements as well as a theoretical model for the chemo-electro-mechanical behavior of multi walled (MWNT) carbon nanotubes sheet actuators. Investigations of MWNT paper as an actuator and the analysis of the experimental and theoretical characteristics are special features of the presented work. The influencing parameters of the actuation behavior such as thickness of sheet materials and electrolyte concentration have been investigated. We report the experimentally measured active displacement varying quadratically with the applied electric field and non-linearly with the electrolyte concentration. In the theoretical part, we present a macroscopic actuation model for the global displacement behavior of MWNT materials. Finally, a comparison between the theoretical and the experimental investigations has been conducted.