# US 8,784,603 B2 · Actuator device including nanoscale fiber films

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- Number: US 8,784,603 B2
- Document ID: US8784603B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/430,455
- Filed: 2009-04-27
- Published: 2010-04-01
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-28
- Assignees: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
- Applicants: Zhiyong Liang; Ben Wang; Chun Zhang; Szu-Yuan Tsai; Leslie Kramer
- Inventors: Zhiyong Liang; Ben Wang; Chun Zhang; Szu-Yuan Tsai; Leslie Kramer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784603B2

## CPC

- H10N 30/098: Forming organic materials
- B82Y 15/00: Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
- Y10T 156/1092: All laminae planar and face to face
- Y10T 428/249924: Noninterengaged fiber-containing paper-free web or sheet which is not of specified porosity
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method for making an actuator capable of dry actuation is provided. The method includes providing a first nanoscale fiber film, providing a second nanoscale fiber film, positioning a solid polymer electrolyte at least partially between and adjacent to the first nanoscale fiber film and the second nanoscale fiber film, and then affixing the solid polymer electrolyte to the first nanoscale fiber film and the second nanoscale fiber film. The nanoscale fiber films may be buckypapers, made of carbon nanotubes. The actuator is capable of dry actuation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for making an actuator capable of dry actuation comprising:
positioning a free-standing solid polymer electrolyte at least partially between and adjacent to a first preformed nanoscale fiber film and a second preformed nanoscale fiber film; and
affixing the solid polymer electrolyte to the first preformed nanoscale fiber film and to the second preformed nanoscale fiber film by heating one or more of the first preformed nanoscale fiber film, the second preformed nanoscale fiber film, and the solid polymer electrolyte to bond the first preformed nanoscale fiber film and the second preformed nanoscale fiber film to the solid polymer electrolyte,
wherein the first preformed nanoscale fiber film, the second preformed nanoscale fiber film, or both, are made by a process comprising:
suspending a plurality of nanoscale fibers in a liquid to form a suspension; and
filtering the suspension in a controlled manner to form the nanoscale fiber film.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first preformed nanoscale fiber film, the second preformed nanoscale fiber film, or both, comprise a plurality of carbon nanotubes having a length of at least about 1 mm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solid polymer electrolyte comprises a sulfonated terafluorethylene copolymer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first preformed nanoscale fiber film, the second preformed nanoscale fiber film, or both, comprise a plurality of carbon nanotubes.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of affixing comprises heating the first preformed nanoscale fiber film, the second preformed nanoscale fiber film, and the solid polymer electrolyte to bond the first preformed nanoscale fiber film and the second preformed nanoscale fiber film to the solid polymer electrolyte.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second preformed nanoscale fiber films and the solid polymer electrolyte are heated to a temperature from about 100° C. to about 250° C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solid polymer electrolyte has a conductivity of at least about 10−3 S/cm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first preformed nanoscale fiber film, the second preformed nanoscale fiber film, and the solid polymer electrolyte are heated to a temperature from about 100° C. to about 250° C. to bond the first preformed nanoscale fiber film and the second preformed nanoscale fiber film to the solid polymer electrolyte.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
applying a liquid polymer electrolyte onto the first preformed nanoscale fiber film, the second preformed nanoscale fiber film, or both; and
solidifying the liquid polymer electrolyte,
wherein the applying and solidifying steps occur prior to positioning the free-standing solid polymer electrolyte at least partially between and adjacent to the first preformed nanoscale fiber film and the second preformed nanoscale fiber film.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the solid polymer electrolyte and the liquid polymer electrolyte comprise the same polymer electrolyte.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein:
the liquid polymer electrolyte is applied to the first preformed nanoscale fiber film and the second preformed nanoscale fiber film;
the liquid polymer electrolyte is solidified to form a solidified polymer electrolyte; and
the free-standing solid polymer electrolyte is positioned adjacent to the solidified polymer electrolyte on the first and second preformed nanoscale fiber films.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein solidifying the liquid polymer electrolyte comprises drying the liquid polymer electrolyte.