Nanoporous carbon actuator and methods of use thereof

Patent · Tue Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2012

OSTI ID:1058901

Biener, Juergen ^[1]; Baumann, Theodore F ^[2]; Shao, Lihua ^[3]; Weissmueller, Joerg ^[4]

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1. San Leandro, CA
2. Discovery Bay, CA
3. Karlsruhe, DE
4. Stutensee, DE

An electrochemically driveable actuator according to one embodiment includes a nanoporous carbon aerogel composition capable of exhibiting charge-induced reversible strain when wetted by an electrolyte and a voltage is applied thereto. An electrochemically driven actuator according to another embodiment includes a nanoporous carbon aerogel composition wetted by an electrolyte; and a mechanism for causing charge-induced reversible strain of the composition. A method for electrochemically actuating an object according to one embodiment includes causing charge-induced reversible strain of a nanoporous carbon aerogel composition wetted with an electrolyte to actuate the object by the strain.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 8,231,770
• Application Number: 12/723,215
• OSTI ID: 1058901
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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