Light-Driven Flying Balloons Based on Hybrids of Carbon Nanotubes and Cellulose Nanofibers

Abstract

We have fabricated nanocarbon-based palm-sized cubic paper balloons that can be levitated by light irradiation. These paper balloons are composed of carbon nanotube (CNT) freestanding films and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) freestanding films. The number of CNT freestanding films (NCNT) and the number of CNF freestanding films (6-NCNT) among the six walls of the cube were varied. We investigated the effect of NCNT on the levitation behaviors under light irradiation. We found that the balloons were levitated when NCNT was greater than or equal to two. The levitation height was found to be increased by increasing NCNT.

Keywords

• carbon nanotubes
• cellulose nanofibers
• flying balloons