Bulk nanoporous metals are known to be attractive actuation materials attributing to their low driving voltage and large strain amplitude as well as excellent mechanical properties [1,2,3]. In this work, bulk nanoporous platinum (np-Pt) samples with the ligament size down to 2 nm have been prepared for the first time by electrochemical dealloying of Pt15Cu85 master alloy in 1 M H2SO4 at 60°C [3]. The obtained np-Pt shows an electrochemically active specific surface area of up to 25 m2/g and good mechanical and thermal stability. Bulk np-Pt based electrochemical actuators show an operating voltage as low as 1.0 V, a reversible strain amplitude as high as 0.37%. Their volumetric work densities reach to 1.64 MJ/m³, over 40 times greater than that of skeletal muscle.

References

[1] Haiss, W., 2001. Surface stress of clean and adsorbate-covered solids. Reports on Progress in Physics, 64(5), p.591.

[2] Weissmuller, J., R. N. Viswanath, D. Kramer, P. Zimmer, R. Wurschum, and H. Gleiter. "Charge-induced reversible strain in a metal." Science 300, no. 5617 (2003): 312-315.