Platinum Nanowire Actuator: Metallic Artificial Muscles

In this paper, we report the fabrication of platinum nanowires using single wall carbon nanotubes as templates and their application as an electro-chemical actuator. Two regimes of actuation were seen in this actuator. In the “low” charge injection regime, quantum mechanical effects introduced by electrochemical double layer charge manipulation were the dominant actuation mechanism. Strain of about 0.04% without significant hysteresis was readily achieved. In the “medium” charge injection regime, electrostatic effect is believed to be the dominant mechanism producing strain of 0.22% which is much larger than those of the commercial piezoelectric materials.