Design of a comb-type self-oscillating gel

Abstract

Here we show a comb-type self-oscillating gel that exhibits spontaneous swelling–deswelling oscillation without on–off switching of external stimuli. The redox oscillation of the polymerized catalyst of the BZ reaction is converted to mechanical oscillation of the polymer. By introducing grafted polymer chains, self-oscillation with faster and larger swelling–deswelling changes was achieved.