Electronically reversible adhesive systems and methods

An adhesive system (100) for attachment to a contact surface (122) of an object (120), the adhesive system (100) comprising:

• a backing (110);
• carbon nanotubes (130), each having a first end region (132) and a second end region (134), opposite the first end region (132);
• charged nanoparticles (150), each coupled to the second end region (134) of at least one of the carbon nanotubes (130);
• and
• an electrical source (160), configured to selectively electrically charge the backing (110) to cause an electrical repulsion force between the backing (110) and the charged nanoparticles (150);
• and
• wherein:
• the first end region (132) of each of the carbon nanotubes (130) is coupled to the backing (110);
• each of the charged nanoparticles (150) has a nanoparticle net electrical charge;
• each of the charged nanoparticles (150) has an insulating shell (154) to electrically isolate the nanoparticle net electrical charge at least from the carbon nanotubes (130);
• and
• the second end region (134) of each of a number of the carbon nanotubes (130) is coupled to none of the charged nanoparticles (150).