Electrically induced rapid deformation of nonionic gel

Chemically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) gel swollen with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), was first found to bend vividly in air by applying a DC e lectric field. A rapid and large bending motion was observed. As neither wa ter nor an ionic component exists in the gel, no electrolysis occurs in the actuation process. It would be an advantage over polyelectrolyte gels for durability and efficiency in practical application as a soft actuator. We r eport here the observed results and propose a tentative mechanism for the r eversible-and-large deformation.