Svetovoy Vitaly B, Sanders Remco G P, Ma Kechun, Elwenspoek Miko C
1] MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, PO 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands [2] Institute of Physics and Technology, Yaroslavl Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 150007, Yaroslavl, Russia.
MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, PO 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
Sci Rep. 2014 Mar 6;4:4296. doi: 10.1038/srep04296.
Microsystems become part of everyday life but their application is restricted by lack of strong and fast motors (actuators) converting energy into motion. For example, widespread internal combustion engines cannot be scaled down because combustion reactions are quenched in a small space. Here we present an actuator with the dimensions 100 × 100 × 5 μm(3) that is using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen as part of its working cycle. Water electrolysis driven by short voltage pulses creates an extra pressure of 0.5-4 bar for a time of 100-400 μs in a chamber closed by a flexible membrane. When the pulses are switched off this pressure is released even faster allowing production of mechanical work in short cycles. We provide arguments that this unexpectedly fast pressure decrease is due to spontaneous combustion of the gases in the chamber. This actuator is the first step to truly microscopic combustion engines.
微系统已融入日常生活，但它们的应用受到缺乏强大且快速的将能量转化为运动的马达（致动器）的限制。例如，广泛使用的内燃机无法缩小规模，因为燃烧反应在小空间内会熄灭。在此，我们展示了一种尺寸为100×100×5 μm³的致动器，它将氢气和氧气的内燃作为其工作循环的一部分。由短电压脉冲驱动的水电解在由柔性膜封闭的腔室内产生0.5 - 4 巴的额外压力，持续时间为100 - 400 微秒。当脉冲关闭时，这种压力释放得更快，从而能够在短周期内产生机械功。我们提出论据表明，这种意外快速的压力下降是由于腔室内气体的自燃。这种致动器是迈向真正微观内燃机的第一步。
