Bio-Inspired Polymer Composite Actuator and Generator Driven by Water Gradients
Abstract
Actuators—or artificial muscles—take electrical or chemical energy and convert it into mechanical force. Typically, actuators made from polymers can show large deformations, but cannot generate a lot of force. Ma et al. (p. 186 ; see the Perspective by Kim and Kwon ) describe a polymer composite based on a modified polypyrrole that expands in response to water absorption. The composite was able to generate large stresses and forces, and offered a high work density approaching those of the best conducting polymer electrochemical actuators. Magnetic nanoparticles incorporated into polymer films were used to control the locomotion of the actuator.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jan 11, 2013
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.1230262
Entities
People
- Daniel G Anderson
- Liang Guo
- Mingming Ma
- Robert S. Langer, Jr.
Organizations
- Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- National Cancer Institute
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute