Carbon nanofiber actuator
View Patent ↗An electroconductive film for an actuator is formed from a gel composition including carbon nanofibers, an ionic liquid, and a polymer. The carbon nanofibers are produced with an aromatic mesophase pitch by melt spinning.
1. An electroconductive film for an actuator formed from a gel composition comprising:
carbon nanofibers,
an ionic liquid, and
a polymer,
wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise a melt spun and carbonized aromatic mesophase pitch,
wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise alkali-activated carbon nanofibers,
wherein the alkali activated carbon nanofibers undergo alkali-activation treatment immediate after carbonization.
2. A laminate comprising:
the electroconductive film according to claim 1 ; and
an electrolyte membrane including a polymer and an ionic liquid.
3. The laminate according to claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanofibers are selected from the group consisting of carbon nanofibers, activated carbon nanofibers, and a combination thereof.
4. The laminate according to claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise activated carbon nanofibers.
5. An actuator element comprising:
an electrolyte membrane including a polymer and an ionic liquid; and
at least two electroconductive films each according to claim 1 provided in a mutually insulative state on the opposing surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, wherein the actuator deforms when a potential difference is applied across the electroconductive films.
6. The actuator element according to claim 5 , wherein the carbon nanofibers are selected from the group consisting of carbon nanofibers, activated carbon nanofibers, and a combination thereof.
7. The actuator element according to claim 5 , wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise activated carbon nanofibers.
8. The actuator element according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator can operate repeatedly with no substantial decay of displacement for 8,000 seconds or longer at a certain voltage.
9. The electroconductive film for an actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise carbon nanofibers each having a lower limit of diameter of 150 nm and a upper limit of diameter of 500 nm, and a lower limit of length of 10 μm and the upper limit of length of 1000 μm.
10. An electroconductive film for an actuator comprising:
carbon nanofibers;
an ionic liquid; and
a polymer,
wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise a melt spun and carbonized aromatic mesophase pitch, wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise alkali-activated carbon nanofibers that are alkali-activated directly after the carbonization.
11. An actuator element comprising:
an ion-conductive layer; and
at least two electroconductive films each according to claim 10 provided in a mutually insulative state on the opposing surfaces of the ion-conductive layer, wherein the actuator deforms when a potential difference is applied across the electroconductive films.
12. The electroconductive film for an actuator according to claim 10 , wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise carbon nanofibers each having a lower limit of diameter of 150 nm and a upper limit of diameter of 500 nm, and a lower limit of length of 10 μm and the upper limit of length of 1000 μm.
13. A method for producing an electroconductive film for an actuator, wherein the electroconductive film comprises carbon nanofibers, an ionic liquid, and a polymer, comprising producing the carbon nanofiber with an aromatic mesophase pitch by melt spinning and carbonized and alkali-activating the carbon nanofiber that are alkali-activated directly after the carbonization.
14. The actuator element according to claim 13 , wherein the carbon nanofibers comprise carbon nanofibers each having a lower limit of diameter of 150 nm and a upper limit of diameter of 500 nm, and a lower limit of length of 10 μm and the upper limit of length of 1000 μm.