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A Mechanically Actuating Carbon‐Nanotube Fiber in Response to Water and Moisture
Author(s) -
He Sisi,
Chen Peining,
Qiu Longbin,
Wang Bingjie,
Sun Xuemei,
Xu Yifan,
Peng Huisheng
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201507108
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon nanotube , capillary action , moisture , fiber , composite material , nanoscopic scale , nanotube , water flow , nanotechnology , environmental science , environmental engineering
A new family of hierarchically helical carbon‐nanotube fibers with many nano‐ and micro‐scale channels has been synthesized. They demonstrate remarkable mechanical actuations in response to water and moisture. The water or moisture is first rapidly transported through the trunk micron‐scale channels and then efficiently infiltrates into the interconnected capillary nanoscale channels, similar to the blood flow in our body. Therefore, rapid and large contraction and rotation of the fiber occurs with a high reversibility. These mechanically actuating fibers are promising for various applications, and smart windows and louvers have been investigated as two demonstrations.