Brinker, ManuelManuelBrinkerDittrich, GuidoGuidoDittrichRichert, ClaudiaClaudiaRichertLakner, PirminPirminLaknerKrekeler, TobiasTobiasKrekelerKeller, Thomas F.Thomas F.KellerHuber, NorbertNorbertHuberHuber, PatrickPatrickHuber2020-10-232020-10-232020-09-30Science Advances 40 (6): eaba1483 (2020)http://hdl.handle.net/11420/7648The absence of piezoelectricity in silicon makes direct electro-mechanical applications of this mainstream semiconductor impossible. Integrated electrical control of the silicon mechanics, however, would open up new perspectives for on-chip actuorics. Here, we combine wafer-scale nanoporosity in single-crystalline silicon with polymerization of an artificial muscle material inside pore space to synthesize a composite that shows macroscopic electrostrain in aqueous electrolyte. The voltage-strain coupling is 3 orders of magnitude larger than the best-performing ceramics in terms of piezoelectric actuation. We trace this huge electroactuation to the concerted action of 100 billions of nanopores per square centimetre cross-section and to potential-dependent pressures of up to 150 atmospheres at the single-pore scale. The exceptionally small operation voltages (0.4-0.9 V) along with the sustainable and biocompatible base materials make this hybrid promising for bio-actuator applications.en2375-2548202040American Association for the Advancement of Sciencehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Physics - Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall EffectPhysics - Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall EffectPhysics - Materials SciencePhysics - Soft Condensed Matterphysics.app-phPhysics - Chemical PhysicsPhysikChemieJournal Article10.15480/882.300110.1126/sciadv.aba148310.15480/882.30013299889210.15480/336.2753Journal Article