METHOD FOR MAKING ELECTROTHERMAL ACTUATORS

摘要

A method for making an electrothermal actuator requires a carbon nanotube paper being provided. The carbon nanotube paper is cut along a cutting-line to form a patterned carbon nanotube paper. At least two electrodes are formed on the patterned carbon nanotube paper. Finally, the electrothermal actuator is obtained by forming a flexible polymer layer on the patterned carbon nanotube paper.

主权项

1. A method for making an electrothermal actuator comprising:
providing a carbon nanotube paper, wherein the carbon nanotube paper comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes extending along the same direction and joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force, and a density of the carbon nanotube paper is greater than or equal to 0.5 g/cm3; forming a patterned carbon nanotube paper by cutting the carbon nanotube paper along a cutting-line, wherein an angle between an extending direction of the plurality of carbon nanotubes and at least a portion of the cutting-line is in a range from about 45 degrees to about 90 degrees; electrically connecting at least two electrodes to the patterned carbon nanotube paper; and forming a flexible polymer layer on the patterned carbon nanotube paper, wherein the patterned carbon nanotube paper is at least partly embedded into the flexible polymer layer, a thickness ratio of the carbon nanotube paper and the flexible polymer layer is in a range from about 1:7 to about 1:10, and a thermal expansion coefficient of the carbon nanotube paper is greater than or equal to ten times that of the flexible polymer layer.