Bending of acrylamide gel in various salt solutions under the electric field

Abstract

There have been a number of reprots of electrically induced phenomena in charged polymer network. These phenomena have a variety of potential applications for artificial organ components such as musclelike contractile structures, sensors, switches and electric current-modulated drug delivery systems. In this study, the bending of crosslinked acrylamide gel induced by electirc current in NaCl aqueous solution is demonstrated and a mechanism for the bending phenomena is proposed. The differences in osmotic pressure and pH gradient induced in the gel network are the major factors to control the bending. And for the study of each ion effect on bending rate, bending angle is measured in various salt solutions. In each case, bending phenomena depend on positive and negative electrode reaction and interaction of ions with acrylamide gel.