Actuators based on Nanoscale Carbon Tubes

Abstract

Nanoscale carbon tubes (CNTs) were scientifically documented as early as 1952 [65] and 1976 [60]. However, only in 1991, when they were rediscovered by chance by Iijima [30] and possibly inspired by the Nobel Prize award in Chemistry 1996 for the fullerene discovery as an independent carbon allotrope, the scientific community showed great interest. Unlike graphite, carbon nanotubes do not occur naturally as carbon modifications, but must always be produced artificially. The discovery of Baughman [6] in 1999, that macroscopic CNT papers made of filtered CNT powder, so-called CNT Bucky paper, have active properties hemselves, has given the nanotubes additional interest, especially in the field of adaptronics. Before the test results of their actuation are discussed in Sect.3.5.1.2, the essential morphological, electrical and mechanical properties of the nanoscale carbon tubes are summarized in order to get an understanding of the processes in and mechanics of the carbon tube.