Liquid‐State Optoelectronics Using Liquid Metal

Abstract

Liquid‐state electronics utilizing functional liquids confined in soft templates as the sensing and actuating component present the ideal platform for enabling conformal coverage of electronic systems on curved and soft surfaces. However, to date, optoelectronic devices based on functional liquid materials as represented by photodetectors and optical memories still have not been proposed; this advancement is crucial to scaling up current liquid‐state devices to a system level. Optoelectronic devices based on liquid metal and photo‐switchable ionic liquid with liquid–liquid heterojunction technology are proposed. The sensing and memory schemes presented are generic for different liquid‐state devices and that enables different functionality to be added to the liquid‐state electronics. As a proof of concept, demonstrations are made of a light sensor composed of the ionic liquid and an optical memory using a composite of the ionic liquid and polypropylene glycol. These devices are important advancements toward the realization of liquid‐state electronic systems.

Liquid metal-based nanocomposite materials: fabrication technology and applications

“…LMs are widely used in several types of sensors, such as gait sensors, 72 wireless strain sensors, 73 pressure sensors, 74 and optical sensors, 75 because of their high elasticity and high level of biocompatibility. Since LM has high rigidity against deformation, they have been mainly used in sensors requiring high elasticities.…”

Highly stretchable sensing array for independent detection of pressure and strain exploiting structural and resistive control

“…Stretchable sensors are in high demand for electronics used in advanced electric systems [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] particularly for wearable devices. Several stretchable physical sensors have been developed, including pressure [8][9][10] , strain [10][11][12][13] , temperature 14,15 , shear force 16 , and light 17,18 to detect human motion 19 or condition [20][21][22] . Many multi-physical sensors with stretchability have been developed for combined detection of these physical parameters [23][24][25] .…”

Field’s Metal Nanodroplets for Creating Phase-Change Materials

“…Low-melting liquid metal alloys, in particular the Ga-based alloy EGaIn [melting point (mp) 15 °C], and the eutectic In–Bi–Sn alloy, known as Field’s metal (mp 62 °C), have been recognized to possess great potential. The use of liquid metals has thus emerged in an extensive record of research avenues including flexible electronics, , energy storage and conversion devices, , catalysis, , therapy, light emission, advanced material synthesis, , and optoelectronics …”