碳纳米管--一种新的巨电致变形纳米智能材料

纳米机电系统的发展要求智能材料具有大的应变和功率密度，以获得优良的能量转换能力．文章介绍了作者的最新发现：在电场的作用下，碳纳米管能产生巨大电致变形；而且与传统智能材料如铁电体等相比，其体积功率密度和质量功率密度预计可分别提高3个和4个量级，是一种极具潜力的新型智能材料．

Carbon nanotubes--a new kind of giant electrostrictive intelligent nano-material

A nano electromechanical system (NEMS) requires intelligent materials with large strains and energy densities to obtain excellent energy conversion. We have recently observed an exceptionally large axial electrostrictive deformation in single-walled carbon nanotubes under electric fields, and the corresponding volumeric and gravimetric work capacities are predicted to be three and four orders higher than the traditional ferroelectric intelligent materials used in NEMS, respectively. These carbon nanotubes, hold great promise for use as a new kind of intelligent material.