NOVELTY - The actuator has an actuating electrode electrically coupled to a counter electrode. The actuating electrode comprises a network of electrically interconnected nanofibers, where the actuator is configured to change dimension and generate stress during actuation of the actuating electrode in absence of liquid or solid electrolyte. The actuation of the actuating electrode comprises direct or indirect application of voltage to the actuating electrode with respect to the counter electrode, where the actuator is held by two supports that are proximate to a sheet or sheet strip ends.    USE - Electrically powered actuator for use in solar cell, LED or diode display, touch screen display, ion transparent electrode, electrochemical device, and strain amplifier (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The actuator includes resistively heated carbon nanotube sheets that transfer thermal energy to flowing gases in an effective manner, so that extent of the thermal energy transfer changes temperature of the nanofiber sheet that is detected as a sensor response to gas flow rate by measuring sheet resistance, thus modulating and optimizing sheet thermal loss to enable improvement in sensitivity and reliability of nanotube-based gas flow sensors, and hence ensuring that aero-gel, low density or high density network with conducting fibers are electrically interconnected and actuated without requiring presence of either a liquid or solid electrolytes.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The nanofibers are selected from a group consisting of graphene ribbons, carbon nanotubes, superconducting nanofibers, non-elastomeric conducting polymer nanofibers, elastomeric conducting polymer nanofibers, electrically conducting oxide nanofibers, and conductor coated nanofibers. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for the following:    (1) a process for manufacturing an electrode    (2) a process for manufacturing a strain amplifier.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a pictorial representation of a carbon multi-walled nanotubes sheet strip before actuation at room temperature.