Porous Carbon Nano-Particles from waste onion peels

Porous Carbon Nano-Particles from waste onion peels

Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III- Science & Tech

In news: Using porous carbon nanoparticles from waste onion peels, a team of scientists have developed soft robotic actuators with enhanced photomechanical capacity.

• It can act as efficient traps for the illuminating low-power near-infrared (NIR) light and can convert a control signal into mechanical motion 
• This it finds bioengineering applications such as drug delivery, wearable and assistive devices, prostheses, and even artificial organs.

What are soft robots or actuators?

• Actuators or soft robots consists of rubber-like polymer with embedded nanomaterials which converts a source of energy (like light energy) to mechanical motion.
• Generation of predesigned motion facilitated by their flexibility, affordability, and easy customization are the main reasons for increasing interest of these nano-robots with targeted applications in areas including bio-medical, military, and remote space operations.
• The high thermal conductivity of these nanoforms results in rapid distribution of the heat generated locally by thermal and photo-thermal stimuli. 

Using porous carbon nanoparticles

• To take these actuators to the next level of development, heat traps can be created to capture and contain the generated heat for slightly longer durations such that the achieved photomechanical actuation can be enhanced.
• Team of Bangalore scientist has realized such a possibility by utilizing porous carbon nanoparticles (PCNs) from waste onion peels.

Source: PIB