| In Chapter 1, an electrochemical mechanism is described where mechanical energy input can be transformed into substantial electrical energy output. Straining an elastomeric film by only 5--10% provides an electrical power as high as 30 mW/kg of material under a bias potential of about -0.85 V. It is shown that power output quadratically depends on bias potential, allowing for increased power generation for electrolytes having wider redox windows. In Chapter 2, improvements are discussed that result in dramatic increase of the cycle life for fuel powered muscles that operate by the catalytic combustion of a hydrogen and air mixture on a NiTi shape memory wire. Using electrochemical deposition to firmly attach catalytic Pt to the surface of shape memory wires provides a cycle life of over 10,000 cycles. Using scrolled nanotube sheets as a porous yet strong binding tape, NiTi wires have been shown to actuate 2.5% in cycles of under 5 seconds for over 50,000 cycles. |
