Electromechanical actuation of macroscopic carbon nanotube structures: mats and aligned ribbons

The electromechanical actuation of macroscopic carbon nanotube (CNT) structures, including single and multi walled CNT mats and aligned ribbons, is analyzed and compared. From experimental evidence, actuation due to quantum chemical and electrostatic effects can be distinguished. Their respective contribution to the total actuation depends on two key parameters, namely Young’s modulus and charge density. While mechanical energy densities of actuated structures are appreciable, electromechanical conversion efficiencies are found to be impractically low.