Abstract: The electroconductive member has an electroconductive support and a surface layer formed on the electroconductive support, wherein the surface layer has a porous body having a continuous open pore, and the electroconductive member satisfies the following (1) and (2): (1) in a specific condition, a surface potential of the electroconductive member, after an elapse of 10 seconds since a completion of a discharge is 10 V or more; and (2) when applying a direct voltage between a polyethylene terephthalate film as a member to be charged and the electroconductive member, and charging the polyethylene terephtalate film, |Vd|?|Vin|?|Vth| is satisfied within a range of |Vin|>|Vth|, wherein, Vd represents a charge potential of the polyethylene terephtalate film, Vin represents a voltage applied between the electroconductive member and the polyethylene terephtalate film, Vth represents a discharge starting voltage.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator simultaneously having better deformation response characteristics and larger generative force. The actuator includes a pair of opposing electrodes and an intermediate layer disposed therebetween. The intermediate layer contains at least an electrolyte and includes at least a polymer fiber layer. The polymer fiber layer includes a plurality of polymer fibers crossing each other and intertwined three-dimensionally. The polymer fiber layer has fused portions at intersections of the polymer fibers.

Abstract: Provided is an ion conducting actuator that easily allows reduction in size and integration thereof, compared to existing one, and gives a large generating force. The columnar ion conducting actuator includes a tubular member serving as a first electrode, an ion-supplying material disposed inside the tubular member, and linear second electrodes disposed inside the tubular member. The ion-supplying material lies between the inner wall of the tubular member and the second electrodes and includes a polymer gel containing positive ions and negative ions. The tubular member contains a plurality of the second electrodes. Either the positive ions or the negative ions contained in the polymer gel move toward the plurality of second electrodes side and the other ions move toward the inner wall side of the tubular member by applying a voltage between the tubular member and the plurality of the second electrodes to elongate the ion conducting actuator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator which uses a cationically conductive polymer electrolyte and shows a large deformation response. The actuator has a pair of opposing electrodes and an intermediate layer arranged between the pair of the electrodes, which actuator being curved and displaced when voltage is applied to the electrodes, wherein the intermediate layer has at least: the cationically conductive polymer electrolyte having an ether bond site and an anion site in its molecule; and a weakly acidic material which interacts with the ether bond site.

Abstract: There is provided an actuator that can deform as an electrolyte moves, wherein at least one of a pair of electrode layers contains polymer fibers, and the polymer fibers contain an electroconductive material and are porous.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuator including a supporting portion including a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode, and a part of a planar electrolyte member disposed therebetween, and having terminals configured to apply a voltage between the first and second electrodes; a displacement portion; and an intermediate portion disposed between the supporting portion and the displacement portion and including a third electrode on the electrolyte member and a conductive connecting member. The third electrode includes linear members and a conductive material. The linear members have major axes thereof extending in a direction crossing a direction from the supporting portion toward the displacement portion. The third electrode has conduction paths through which a current flows in the crossing direction. The conductive connecting member is electrically connected to one of the first and second electrodes and electrically connects the conduction paths together.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a dispersion which includes a dispersion medium and particles dispersed therein, the method includes bringing at least two types of liquids into contact with each other to form a reaction product comprising the particles, wherein the liquids are ejected from respective nozzles to be brought into contact with each other and then to flow in an integrated manner while forming a spiral flow.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator simultaneously having better deformation response characteristics and larger generative force. The actuator includes a pair of opposing electrodes and an intermediate layer disposed therebetween. The intermediate layer contains at least an electrolyte and includes at least a polymer fiber layer. The polymer fiber layer includes a plurality of polymer fibers crossing each other and intertwined three-dimensionally. The polymer fiber layer has fused portions at intersections of the polymer fibers.

Abstract: An actuator includes a first bending portion having a first electrode layer, a first electrolyte layer on a first surface of the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer in contact with the first electrolyte layer; and a second bending portion having the first electrode layer, a second electrolyte layer on a second surface of the first electrode layer, the second surface facing the first surface, and a third electrode layer in contact with the second electrolyte layer, in which the first surface of the first electrode layer includes a region where the first electrolyte layer is not arranged, the second surface of the first electrode layer includes a region where the second electrolyte layer is not arranged, the first bending portion is adjacent to the second bending portion, and the bending direction of the first bending portion is opposite to the bending direction of the second bending portion.

Abstract: An intermediate layer of polyurethane containing an electrolyte in a high concentration can be produced with good productivity and an actuator element having high generative force is provided. An actuator has a pair of electrode layers and an intermediate layer disposed between the pair of electrode layers and containing an electrolyte and polyurethane, in which the actuator deforms when a voltage is applied between the electrode layers, the content of the electrolyte in the intermediate layer is 60 wt % or more and 300 wt % or lower based on the polyurethane, and the polyurethane is obtained by a reaction of at least a compound represented by General Formula (1) and a compound represented by General Formula (2).

Abstract: Provided is an actuator which has high degree of integration and can reduce a difference of the developed force depending on a direction of displacement, and obtain a substantially uniform developed force over all directions. The actuator including a laminate which includes: a pair of electrode layers; an ion-conducting layer that is held between the pair of electrode layers; and an insulating layer that is disposed on one of the pair of electrode layers, in which the laminate forms a multilayer structure that is spirally wound around a conductive shaft, and multiple notches are formed in at least a partial region of the multilayer structure.

Abstract: An optical element includes a base member having an optically ineffective portion and a light-shielding film disposed on the optically ineffective portion. The light-shielding film contains a cured mixture of an epoxy resin and a phenol resin.

Abstract: Provided is an ion conducting actuator that easily allows reduction in size and integration thereof, compared to existing one, and gives a large generating force. The columnar ion conducting actuator includes a tubular member serving as a first electrode, an ion-supplying material disposed inside the tubular member, and linear second electrodes disposed inside the tubular member. The ion-supplying material lies between the inner wall of the tubular member and the second electrodes and includes a polymer gel containing positive ions and negative ions. The tubular member contains a plurality of the second electrodes. Either the positive ions or the negative ions contained in the polymer gel move toward the plurality of second electrodes side and the other ions move toward the inner wall side of the tubular member by applying a voltage between the tubular member and the plurality of the second electrodes to elongate the ion conducting actuator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuator including a supporting portion including a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode, and a part of a planar electrolyte member disposed therebetween, and having terminals configured to apply a voltage between the first and second electrodes; a displacement portion; and an intermediate portion disposed between the supporting portion and the displacement portion and including a third electrode on the electrolyte member and a conductive connecting member. The third electrode includes linear members and a conductive material. The linear members have major axes thereof extending in a direction crossing a direction from the supporting portion toward the displacement portion. The third electrode has conduction paths through which a current flows in the crossing direction. The conductive connecting member is electrically connected to one of the first and second electrodes and electrically connects the conduction paths together.

Abstract: There is provided an actuator that can deform as an electrolyte moves, wherein at least one of a pair of electrode layers contains polymer fibers, and the polymer fibers contain an electroconductive material and are porous.

Abstract: A difference is arisen in the electric potential of the electrode layer between a fixed end portion and a displacement end portion of an actuator. The electrode layer includes a bundle of polymer fibers containing a conductive material. Longitudinal directions of the polymer fibers are arranged parallel to a direction from the fixed portion to the displacement end portion of the actuator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator large in the amounts of displacement and generative force. The actuator includes a pair of electrode layers and an electrolyte-containing electrolyte layer interposed between the pair of electrode layers, and transforms upon application of a voltage thereto to cause ions in the electrolyte to migrate, wherein the electrolyte layer includes at least one polymer fiber layer made of polymer fibers and at least some of the polymer fibers of the polymer fiber layer are uniaxially oriented within a plane of the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator which uses a cationically conductive polymer electrolyte and shows a large deformation response. The actuator has a pair of opposing electrodes and an intermediate layer arranged between the pair of the electrodes, which actuator being curved and displaced when voltage is applied to the electrodes, wherein the intermediate layer has at least: the cationically conductive polymer electrolyte having an ether bond site and an anion site in its molecule; and a weakly acidic material which interacts with the ether bond site.

Abstract: An actuator includes a first bending portion having a first electrode layer, a first electrolyte layer on a first surface of the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer in contact with the first electrolyte layer; and a second bending portion having the first electrode layer, a second electrolyte layer on a second surface of the first electrode layer, the second surface facing the first surface, and a third electrode layer in contact with the second electrolyte layer, in which the first surface of the first electrode layer includes a region where the first electrolyte layer is not arranged, the second surface of the first electrode layer includes a region where the second electrolyte layer is not arranged, the first bending portion is adjacent to the second bending portion, and the bending direction of the first bending portion is opposite to the bending direction of the second bending portion.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator which has high degree of integration and can reduce a difference of the developed force depending on a direction of displacement, and obtain a substantially uniform developed force over all directions. The actuator including a laminate which includes: a pair of electrode layers; an ion-conducting layer that is held between the pair of electrode layers; and an insulating layer that is disposed on one of the pair of electrode layers, in which the laminate forms a multilayer structure that is spirally wound around a conductive shaft, and multiple notches are formed in at least a partial region of the multilayer structure.