Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/sodium alginate composite hydrogel was prepared by solidifing the blending solution of PVA and sodium alginate, then freezing and thawing repeatedly. In the direct current electric field, the composite hydrogel in aqueous NaCl solution swelled, contracted, and bent. The gel's bending speed and maximum bending degree increased with increase in the electric field intensity and the concentration of NaCl solution. The maximum bending degree increased with increase in the sodium alginate content in the composition hydrogel. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.