Shaping a Soft Future: Patterning Liquid Metals

Ma, Jiyoung; Krisnadi, Febby; Vong, Man Hou; Kong, Minsik; Awartani, Omar; Dickey, Michael D.

doi:10.1002/adma.202205196

Cited by 82 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 251 publications

(603 reference statements)

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“…[36] Besides, the high density of LMs results in a larger inertial contribution compared to water-in-oil emulsion systems, which may lead to a different droplet generation regime. [37][38][39] Moreover, mass production of LM microdroplets is still difficult to achieve in microfluidics. [40] In contrast, electric toothbrush possesses adjustable vibrating or rotating modes of high frequencies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid Metal Droplets‐Based Elastomers from Electric Toothbrush‐Inspired Revolving Microfluidics

Wang

Sun

et al. 2023

Advanced Materials

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Liquid metal (LM)‐based elastomers have a demonstrated value in flexible electronics. Attempts in this area include the development of multifunctional LM‐based elastomers with controllable morphology, superior mechanical performances, and great stability. Herein, inspired by the working principle of electric toothbrushes, a revolving microfluidic system is presented for the generation of LM droplets and construction of desired elastomers. The system involves revolving modules assembled by a needles array and 3D microfluidic channels. LM droplets can be generated with controllable size in a high‐throughput manner due to the revolving motion‐derived drag force. It is demonstrated that by employing a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix as the collection phase, the generated LM droplets can act as conductive fillers for the construction of flexible electronics directly. The resultant LM droplets‐based elastomers exhibit high mechanical strength, stable electrical performance, as well as superior self‐healing property benefiting from the dynamic exchangeable urea bond of the polymer matrix. Notably, due to the flexible programmable feature of the LM droplets embedded within the elastomers, various patterned LM droplets‐based elastomers can be easily achieved. These results indicate that the proposed microfluidic LM droplets‐based elastomers have a great potential for promoting the development of flexible electronics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid Metal Droplets‐Based Elastomers from Electric Toothbrush‐Inspired Revolving Microfluidics

Wang

Sun

et al. 2023

Advanced Materials

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“…They are also easy to pattern using a variety of methods that are not possible with solid metals. 37,38 Extensive research exists on using gallium-based alloys, such as eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn, 75% Ga 25% In w:w) to create stretchable electronics. 6,39 An ongoing challenge is how to make reliable electrical connections to the liquid metal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, they deform easily in response to stress, therefore minimizing the stress at the electrical connection. They are also easy to pattern using a variety of methods that are not possible with solid metals. , Extensive research exists on using gallium-based alloys, such as eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn, 75% Ga 25% In w:w) to create stretchable electronics. , An ongoing challenge is how to make reliable electrical connections to the liquid metal. These connections must maintain their physical properties when subjected to continuous or prolonged stress.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flexible-to-Stretchable Mechanical and Electrical Interconnects

Erlenbach

Mondal

et al. 2023

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Stretchable electronic devices that maintain electrical function when subjected to stress or strain are useful for enabling new applications for electronics, such as wearable devices, human−machine interfaces, and components for soft robotics. Powering and communicating with these devices is a challenge. NFC (near-field communication) coils solve this challenge but only work efficiently when they are in close proximity to the device. Alternatively, electrical signals and power can arrive via physical connections between the stretchable device and an external source, such as a battery. The ability to create a robust physical and electrical connection between mechanically disparate components may enable new types of hybrid devices in which at least a portion is stretchable or deformable, such as hinges. This paper presents a simple method to make mechanical and electrical connections between elastomeric conductors and flexible (or rigid) conductors. The adhesion at the interface between these disparate materials arises from surface chemistry that forms strong covalent bonds. The utilization of liquid metals as the conductor provides stretchable interconnects between stretchable and non-stretchable electrical traces. The liquid metal can be printed or injected into vias to create interconnects. We characterized the mechanical and electrical properties of these hybrid devices to demonstrate the concept and identify geometric design criteria to maximize mechanical strength. The work here provides a simple and general strategy for creating mechanical and electrical connections that may find use in a variety of stretchable and soft electronic devices.

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“…Despite the great progress of LM-based soft electronics, the construction of LM electronic interfaces with high mechanical reliability is still a challenge. To be specific, patterning of LM is a prerequisite to constructing functional circuits and electrodes for practical applications, which motivates the development of various patterning methods 24 such as direct writing, 25 selective wetting, 26 microfluidic injection, 27 and mechanical sintering. 28 However, these patterning methods can only deposit LM on the substrate surface or inside the substrate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface-Embedded Liquid Metal Electrodes with Abrasion Resistance via Direct Magnetic Printing

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2022

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Gallium-based liquid metals (LMs) featuring both high conductivity and fluidity are ideal conductors for soft and stretchable electronics. However, their liquid nature is a doubleedged sword in many key applications since LMs are inherently prone to mechanical damage. Although additional encapsulation is frequently used for the protection of delicate LM electrodes, it hinders the electrical interfacing with other objects for interconnection, sensing, and stimulation. Here, different from conventional patterning methods that deposit LM on or inside substrates, we for the first time report a simple strategy to create surface-embedded LM of eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) circuits with mechanical damage endurance. This was achieved by using direct magnetic printing to overcome the high surface tension of LM, allowing it to be passively filled into the laser-patterned microgrooves on soft substrates. We show that the surface-embedded LM circuits are resistant to mechanical erasure, washing, and peeling. We also show the applications of our surface-embedded LM electrodes in respiration monitoring and electrical stimulation of nerves. This work provides a simple and efficient way to create mechanically reliable LM microelectrodes, holding great promise for wearable and implantable bioelectronics.

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Shaping a Soft Future: Patterning Liquid Metals

Cited by 82 publications

References 251 publications

Liquid Metal Droplets‐Based Elastomers from Electric Toothbrush‐Inspired Revolving Microfluidics

Liquid Metal Droplets‐Based Elastomers from Electric Toothbrush‐Inspired Revolving Microfluidics

Flexible-to-Stretchable Mechanical and Electrical Interconnects

Surface-Embedded Liquid Metal Electrodes with Abrasion Resistance via Direct Magnetic Printing

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