Carbon nanotube-based magnetic actuation of origami membranes

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with nickel and cobalt catalyst tips have been grown on foldable titanium nitride membranes. Once magnetized to saturation under an external magnetic field, these ferromagnetic tips, which reside atop each CNT, can be used to actuate the entire membrane on which the nanotubes are grown. Magnetic modeling is performed to analyze the magnetic properties of the teardrop-shaped CNT tips, and initial experimental results show that magnetic torques and forces arising from the CNT tips are sufficient to rotate the membrane up to 180 degrees and keep it latched without springing back.