Layered inorganic with pillared organic nanocomposite actuators
First Claim
1. A nanostructured actuator comprising:
- a) electrical contacts;
b) an actuation region between the electrical contacts, the actuation region comprising;
(i) a plurality of nanocomposite layered structures each comprising;
(1) inorganic material layers having surface acidity; and
(2) pillared organic material structures between the inorganic material layers, the pillared organic material structures having an orientation responsive to a change in the surface acidity of adjacent inorganic material layers; and
(ii) an elastic matrix holding the plurality of nanocomposite layered structures embedded within, the elastic matrix being adapted to allow transport of chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers;
c) a separator region between the electrical contacts; and
d) a proton generation region between the electrical contacts capable of reversible electrochemical production and elimination of protons.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One nanostructured actuator embodiment includes an actuation region between electrical contacts. The actuation region includes an elastic matrix with embedded nanocomposite layered structures, which have inorganic material layers with pillared organic material structures between the inorganic material layers responsive to the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers. The elastic matrix allows transport of species for changing the surface acidity. A separator region is between the electrical contacts. A proton generation region capable of reversible electrochemical production and elimination of protons is provided, which may be a hydrogen storage material located on a side of the separator region opposite the actuation region, which may include metal hydride, or metal hydroxide. Alternatively, it may include an electrolytic solution and conductive particles within the elastic matrix for in situ electrochemical generation of an acid/base. The conductive particles may include carbon nanotubes, metal fibers, and/or metal nanoparticles. The nanocomposite structures may be generally aligned with a direction of work in the elastic matrix.
22 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A nanostructured actuator comprising:
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a) electrical contacts; b) an actuation region between the electrical contacts, the actuation region comprising; (i) a plurality of nanocomposite layered structures each comprising; (1) inorganic material layers having surface acidity; and (2) pillared organic material structures between the inorganic material layers, the pillared organic material structures having an orientation responsive to a change in the surface acidity of adjacent inorganic material layers; and (ii) an elastic matrix holding the plurality of nanocomposite layered structures embedded within, the elastic matrix being adapted to allow transport of chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers; c) a separator region between the electrical contacts; and d) a proton generation region between the electrical contacts capable of reversible electrochemical production and elimination of protons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A nanostructured actuator comprising:
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a) electrical contacts; b) an actuation region comprising; (i) a nanocomposite layered structure between the electrical contacts comprising; (1) inorganic material layers having surface acidity; and (2) organic material chains linked between the inorganic material layers such that the organic material chains rotate in response to a change in the surface acidity of adjacent inorganic material layers; and (ii) an ion conducting matrix the nanocomposite layered structure being embedded within the ion conducting matrix, the ion conducting matrix being adapted to allow transport of chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers; c) a separator region between the electrical contacts; and d) a region between the electrical contacts capable of reversible electrochemical production and elimination of chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A nanostructured actuator comprising:
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a) electrical contacts; b) an actuation region between the electrical contacts, the actuation region comprising; (i) a plurality of nanocomposite layered structures comprising; (1) inorganic material layers having surface acidity; and (2) pillared organic material structures linked between the layered inorganic material, the pillared organic material structures having an orientation responsive to a change in the surface acidity of adjacent inorganic material layers; (ii) an elastic matrix holding the plurality of nanocomposite layered structures embedded within, the elastic matrix being adapted to allow transport of chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers; and (iii) the plurality of nanocomposite layered structures being generally aligned within the elastic matrix so as to be capable of providing displacement along a direction of work; c) a hydrogen storage region located between the electrical contacts, the hydrogen storage region being capable of reversible production and elimination of protons in response to electrical signals across the hydrogen storage region; and d) a separator region between the actuation and the hydrogen storage region. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A nanostructured actuator comprising:
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a) electrical contacts; b) an actuation region between the electrical contacts, the actuation region comprising; (i) a plurality of nanocomposite layered structures comprising; (1) inorganic material layers having surface acidity; and (2) pillared organic material structures linked between the layered inorganic material, the pillared organic material structures having an orientation responsive to a change in the surface acidity of adjacent inorganic material layers; (ii) an elastic matrix holding the plurality of layered nanocomposite structures embedded within, the elastic matrix including a chemical compound capable of dissociation to proved chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers, the elastic matrix being adapted to allow transport of the chemical species; (iii) electrically conductive particles embedded within the elastic matrix; and (iv) the plurality of nanocomposite layered structures being generally aligned within the elastic matrix so as to be capable of providing displacement along a direction of work; and c) a separator region between the actuation region and one of the electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A nanostructured actuator comprising:
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a) electrical contacts; b) an actuation region between the electrical contacts, the actuation region comprising; (i) a plurality of nanocomposite layered pieces each comprising; (1) inorganic material layers having surface acidity; and (2) pillared organic material structures between the inorganic material layers, the pillared organic material structures having an orientation responsive to a change in the surface acidity of adjacent inorganic material layers; (ii) an elastic matrix holding the plurality of nanocomposite layered pieces embedded within, the elastic matrix being adapted to allow transport of chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers; and (iii) the plurality of nanocomposite layered pieces being generally aligned within the elastic matrix so as to be capable of providing displacement along a direction of work; c) a separator region between the electrical contacts; and d) a region between the electrical contacts capable of reversible electrochemical production and elimination of chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A nanostructured actuator comprising:
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a) a nanocomposite layered structure comprising; (i) inorganic material layers having surface acidity; and (ii) organic material chains linked between the inorganic material layers such that the organic material chains rotate in response to a change in the surface acidity of adjacent inorganic material layers; and b) a porous elastic matrix, the nanocomposite layered structure being embedded within porous elastic matrix, the porous elastic matrix being adapted to allow introduction and transport of chemical species capable of changing the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification