Electro‐Driven, Predefined Carbon Nanotube‐Based Phase Change Composite as a Lifting‐Jack

Abstract

Shape change materials or actuators that are capable of shrinking, bending or rotation under external stimuli (especially, by electricity), have attracted tremendous research interest in past years. Controlled shape change with large output capacity under low excitation voltage remains a challenging task in this field. Here, an electro‐driven carbon nanotube sponge/paraffin wax bulk composite (CS@PW) that can perform various shape change functions such as, in particular, jacking and lifting heavy objects (up to 668.3 times of composite weight) under lower voltages (4–8 V) with fast response and high reversibility is presented. This unique and superior jacking performance is attributed to the predefined original CS shape, the deformability and resilience derived from 3D porous CS@PW, and efficient Joule heat transfer from conductive CS to the coaxially wrapped PW layer; the latter, by reversible phase change solidification/melting, can fix or release carbon nanotube network to enable controlled fixation/motion. Additional advantages include hydrophobicity, anti‐leakage, wide operating temperature, and diverse reversible shape change modes based on CS@PW and commercial polyethylene tapes, are also demonstrated. The designed electro‐driven nanocomposites, combining resilient carbon nanotube networks with low‐cost organic phase‐change material, have wide applications in areas such as robust artificial muscles, intelligent morphing, and energy management.