US Patent 7315106 - Gel laminate actuator formed from carbon nanotubes

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7315106.html

This patent from Japan Science and Technology Agency teaches a new type of polymer actuator which can be used in air at low voltages and can be used in micromachines. Claim 1 reads:

1. An actuator element, comprising: a first electrode layer comprising a first gel film comprising carbon nanotubes, an ionic liquid and a polymer; an ion-conductive layer comprising a second gel film comprising the ionic liquid and the polymer, formed on the first electrode; and a second electrode layer comprising a third gel film comprising carbon nanotubes, the ionic liquid and the polymer, formed on the ion-conductive layer, the second electrode layer being insulated from the first electrode layer; the actuator element being capable of being flexed or deformed by creating a potential difference between the electrode layers.