Synthesis and electrical response of acrylic acid/vinyl sulfonic acid hydrogels prepared by γ-irradiation

The electro-active acrylic acid/vinyl sulfonic acid copolymer (AAc/VS) was prepared using γ-radiation. The effect of preparation conditions such as comonomer composition and irradiation dose on copolymer gelation degree, and swelling property of the prepared copolymer in water and different electrolytes of various concentrations was studied. The degree of gelation decreases by increasing the VS content in the feed solution and increases by increasing the irradiation dose. The swelling degree decreases by increasing the irradiation dose and ionic strength. The electro-activity of the prepared AAc/VS copolymer was investigated to find out that it greatly affected by polymer composition and crosslinking density as well as the hydrogel counter ion. The electrical sensitivity increases by the increase of VS content and crosslinking density in the copolymer. AAc/VS copolymers showed various degrees of bending behavior depending on the counter ion. The presence of potassium as counter ion maximized the electrical response of the polymer.