Carbon-nanotube-reinforced polyaniline fibers for high-strength artificial muscles

Carbon-nanotube-reinforced polyaniline fibers (see Figure) possess improved breaking strength and higher operating stress levels than neat polyaniline, potentially allowing generation of larger stresses by electrochemical actuators containing these fibers. The fibers have tensile strengths of 255 MPa and operate to stress levels in excess of 100 MPa, three times higher than previously reported for conducting-polymer actuators.