Polyelectrolyte gels

A polyelectrolyte gel consists of a deformable network of electrically charged polymers that is swollen with a salt-containing fluid. By subjecting a polyelectrolyte gel to an electric field, the amount of fluid within the gel, and hence its volume, can be varied. Moreover, an electric field can lead to differential swelling across the gel and generate non-uniform stresses that can result in bending and other modes of mechanical instability. By tuning their response, polyelectrolyte gels can act as programmable smart materials that undergo specific shape changes when subjected to an electric field. This project will use modelling, finite-element simulations, and experiments to explore how polyelectrolyte gels respond to electric fields. The ultimate goal is to be able to design a polyelectrolyte gel that will morph into a given shape when an electric field is applied.