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Mechanoresponsive Polymerized Liquid Metal Networks
Carl J Thrasher1, Zachary J Farrell1,2, Nicholas J Morris1,2
1Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 13, 2019
Summary
New polymerized liquid metal networks (Poly-LMNs) offer revolutionary stretchable electronics. These materials exhibit remarkable conductivity changes and stable performance under extreme strain, ideal for wearables and soft robotics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Robotics
Background:
- Room-temperature liquid metals are crucial for advanced stretchable electronics.
- Existing materials face challenges in maintaining performance under strain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel liquid metal-based materials for high-performance stretchable electronics.
- To investigate the unique electromechanical properties of these new materials.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized core-shell liquid metal particles with acrylate ligands.
- Polymerized these particles into cross-linked networks (Poly-LMNs) with high liquid metal content.
- Characterized the conductivity, strain response, and structural behavior of Poly-LMNs.
Main Results:
- Poly-LMNs demonstrated a 10^8-fold increase in conductivity upon particle rupture under strain.
- Achieved nearly constant resistance over large strains (>700% elongation) with increasing volumetric conductivity (>20,000 S cm^-1).
- Exhibited electronic strain memory and stable performance as stretchable heaters (96% power retention).
Conclusions:
- Poly-LMNs possess unique self-healing and hierarchical structuring capabilities.
- These materials offer exceptional electromechanical properties and facile processing for stretchable applications.
- Ideal for power delivery, sensing, and circuitry in soft robotics, e-skin, and wearables.
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