A CARBON NANOTUBE FILM ELECTRODE AND AN ELECTROACTIVE DEVICE FABRICATED WITH THE CARBON NANOTUBE FILM ELECTRODE AND METHODS FOR MAKING SAME

摘要

A single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) film electrode (FE), all-organic electroactive device systems fabricated with the SWNT-FE, and methods for making same. The SWCNT can be replaced by multi-wall carbon nanotubes or few wall carbon nanotubes. The SWCNT film can be obtained by filtering SWCNT solution onto the surface of an anodised alumina membrane. A freestanding flexible SWCNT film can be collected by breaking up this brittle membrane. The conductivity of this SWCNT film can advantageously be higher than 280 S/cm. The EAP actuator layered with the SWNT-FE shows a higher electric field- induced strain than an EAP layered with metal electrodes because the flexible SWNT-FE relieves the restraint of the displacement of the polymeric active layer as compared to the metal electrode. In addition, if thin enough, the SWNT-FE is transparent in the visible light range, thus making it suitable for use in actuators used in optical devices.