A pumping technique using electrohydrodynamic flow inside a gel

We demonstrated a new type of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pump that had a pair of electrodes placed inside a gel (poly(vinyl alcohol) swollen by dimethyl sulfoxide). The fluid (decahydronaphthalene) was in contact with the gel surface. During a voltage application to the electrodes, the EHD flow of dimethyl sulfoxide inside the gel caused the flow of the fluid outside the gel. An advantage of this pumping technique is that one can dissolve some chemicals in the fluid without the fear of their electrochemical decomposition because the electrodes inside the gel are not in contact with the fluid.