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Science 17 March 2006:
Vol. 311. no. 5767, p. 1517
DOI: 10.1126/science.311.5767.1517b
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This Week in Science

Electrically powered motor or actuators can serve as artificial muscles in robots or prosthetic limbs, but significant "down times" will likely occur if their power needs are met by rechargeable batteries. Ebron et al. (p. 1580; see the Perspective by Madden) demonstrate two alternative approaches that use fuel cells. In one approach, a catalyst containing carbon nanotubes acts as muscle, fuel cell electrode, and supercapacitor electrode in a hydrogen-fueled system. In the other approach that can be fueled by hydrogen, methanol, or formic acid, a shape-memory alloy is used; this artificial muscle achieves actuator stroke and power density comparable to that of natural skeletal muscle and generates stresses that are one hundred times greater.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)