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Actively switchable nano-structured adhesive

  • US 7,914,912 B2
  • Filed: 11/10/2005
  • Issued: 03/29/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A fabricated microstructure, comprising:

  • a substrate;

    a set of electrodes or a wire disposed on the substrate; and

    a nano-fiber attached to the substrate,wherein the nano-fiber is differentially coated with an electroactive polymer, magnetostrictive material, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic material to leave a portion of the nano-fiber coated with the electroactive polymer, magnetostrictive material, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic material and another portion of the nano-fiber uncoated,wherein the nano-fiber is electrically isolated from said set of electrodes or wire,the nano-fiber configured to move between a first state and a second state in response to an electric field applied by the set of electrodes or magnetic field applied by the wire, wherein the nano-fiber is straight in the first state and curved in the second state, wherein, when the nano-fiber is in the first state and in contact with a contact surface, the nano-fiber does not adhere to the contact surface, and wherein, when the nano-fiber is in the second state and in contact with the contact surface, the nano-fiber adheres to the contact surface.

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