The objective of this project was the design and fabrication of a microvalve powered by light driven actuators (LDA) manufactured from single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) polydimethylsiloxane solution. Our team executed two different methods of CNT-actuator fabrication to determine which process yielded optimal elastic deformation behavior for valve application. The final CNT-polydimethylsiloxane elastomer solution underwent a series of designed experiments to observe the LDAs mechanical behavior in reaction to photons. Our team collected quantitative lab data to analyze its mechanical properties and calculate the force applied due to its deformation. Computer aided design (CAD) was utilized to conceptualize a preliminary LDA microvalve prototype. The motivation behind this project was to conduct research on potential LDA applications as propulsion components in future light driven microelectromechanical systems. 

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Stack, Tyler
• Stolarczyk, James
• Cugno, Matteo

Subject

• Innovation
• Industry
• Learning
• Energy

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 64386
• E-project-042722-140714

Keyword

• Valve
• Nanotechnology
• Data Analysis
• Design
• Manufacturing
• Actuators

Advisor

• Panchapakesan, Balaji

Year

• 2022

Sponsor

• N/A

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not Specified

Date created

• 2022-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright