US Patent 7361430 - Metal doped CNT/polymer actuator

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7361430.html

This patent from the U.S. Dept. of Energy teaches a new type of actuator based on carbon nanotubes having potential as artificial muscle used in MEMS and other devices. Claim 1 reads:

1. An actuator comprising: at least one electrolyte; at least two electric conducting electrodes separated by said at least one electrolyte; at least one electrode of said electric conducting electrodes providing an electromechanical response upon application of an electronic voltage between said at least two electric conducting electrodes; and at least one electrode of said electric conducting electrodes comprising a carbon nanotube-polymer composite doped with a metal.