A Chemomechanical Polymer Gel with Electrically Driven Motility

Abstract

A system capable of converting chemical energy to mechanical energy could serve as an "artificial muscle". Here we describe a chemomechanical system of this sort based on a syn thetic polymer gel. By using an electric field to direct surfactant binding selectivity to one side of the gel, we can induce contraction and curvature of a strip of gel. Reversing the direction of the elec tric field causes contraction of the opposite side. Thus, we could realize a worm-like motion at a velocity of up to 25 cm min^-1. In this article, principle, behavior and application of an artificial electro-driven chemomechamcal gel are discussed.