Understanding the electro-stimulated deformation of PVC gel by in situ Raman spectroscopy

Electro-responsive materials are of promising applications in microdevices. A dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel actuator driven by unilateral electrodes was proposed, with which the dynamical creeping deformation of the gel around the anode by electro-stimulation was investigated by in situ Raman spectroscopy. The obtained results reveal that the intensity of the band at 1612 cm−1 was linearly correlated to the ratio of DOTP in PVC gel. The plasticizer concentration evolved after an external electro-stimulation was applied, which indicates the migration of plasticizer around the anode. The migration of the plasticizers to the two sides of the anode consequently drives the deformation of the PVC gel. The memory effect of deformation is due to the residuals of the plasticizers out of their original positions after the removal of electro-stimulation. The understanding of the dynamical deformation of PVC gel in response to electro-stimulations may be helpful for the designing of novel electric actuators.