Electroresponsive Behavior of Sulfonated Benzal Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogel Under Direct-Current Electric Field

A novel sulfonated benzal poly(vinyl alcohol) (S-B-PVA) hydrogel was prepared by sulfonating benzal poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel with concentrated sulfuric acid, and its swelling properties, mechanical properties, and electroresponsive behavior in Na2SO4 solutions were studied. The results indicated that the water take-up ability of the hydrogel decreased with the increasing ionic strength of Na2SO4 solution. The Young's modulus, elongation at break and tensile strength of the hydrogel swollen in deionized water is 8.38 MPa, 22.2% and 3.14 MPa, respectively. The hydrogel swollen in Na2SO4 solution bent toward the cathode under non-contact dc electric fields, and its bending speed and equilibrium strain increased with the increasing of applied voltage. The electroresponsive behavior of the hydrogel was also affected by the electrolyte concentration of external Na2SO4 solution, and there is a critical ionic strength of 0.1 at which the maximum equilibrium strain of the hydrogel occurs. Under a cyclically varying electric field, the hydrogel exhibited a good reversible bending behavior.