Electrolysis-induced bubbling in soft solids for elastic-wave generation

Water electrolysis was discovered in 1800, with the famous experiment investigated here within soft tissue from an elastic-wave point of view. Indeed, we report that the rapid formation of hydrogen bubbles after transient (10 ms) electrolysis in water-based gels produces elastic waves. These bubbles are observed using an ultrafast optical camera. As the bubbles are trapped between the rigid electrode and the soft matter, they act as a source of elastic waves that are measured in the bulk using an ultrafast ultrasound scanner. The elastic-wave amplitude is shown to be in good agreement with a simple bubble model.