About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Functional Nanomaterials: Functional Low-Dimensional (0D, 1D, 2D) Materials 2026
|
| Presentation Title |
Structurally-Optimized High-Efficiency Carbon Nanotube Coiled Artificial Muscles |
| Author(s) |
Sameh Tawfick |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Sameh Tawfick |
| Abstract Scope |
Electrochemically driven coiled artificial muscles made of carbon nanotubes (CNT) have a work capacity exceeding natural muscle by at least 50 times, however, their actuation efficiency is typically 5%, which is a factor of 5 lower than natural muscles. This low efficiency has been explained by the porosity nanostructure of the muscles which lowers the efficiency of conversion of ion adsorption on the CNTs surfaces to yarn swelling. Using a Tension-Optimized Process (TOP) for coiling tailors the nanostructure, resulting in high twist density and high spring index. The TOP muscles driven by the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion reach an energy conversion efficiency in contraction of 38.8 % by minimizing side redox reactions. This value is about 50% higher than natural muscles. Similar muscles driven by the tetrabutylammonium cation provide 6.1 J/g contractile work, which is ∼152 times the maximum capability of human skeletal muscles, and 13.1 % contractile energy efficiency. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Energy Conversion and Storage, Mechanical Properties, Modeling and Simulation |