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Published on: January 17, 2017
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Interlocking-interface-enabled thermally deformable liquid metal/polymer membrane with high bonding strength
Tian-Ying Liu1, Fan Jia2, Qian Li3
1Beijing Key Laboratory of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering, CAS Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|November 17, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a novel method to improve liquid metal (LM) bonding with polymers using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a bridge. This creates robust LM/polymer membranes for soft sensors and robotics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Liquid metals (LM) exhibit high surface tension, leading to poor interfacial compatibility and bonding strength with many substrates.
- Achieving strong interfacial bonding is crucial for developing high-performance LM/polymer composites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a bridging agent to enhance interfacial bonding between liquid metal nanoparticles (LMNPs) and polymer substrates.
- To develop high-performance LM/polymer membranes for applications in soft sensors and robotics.
Main Methods:
- Liquid metal (EGaIn) was processed into liquid metal nanoparticles (LMNPs@PVA).
- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was introduced onto plasma-treated polymer substrates via an interfacial penetrating method.
- LMNP/polymer membranes were fabricated by dropping the LMNP solution onto the treated substrates, followed by water evaporation.
Main Results:
- An interlocking structure was formed, with PVA macromolecules acting as binding bridges between LMNPs and polymer substrates.
- The resulting LMNP membranes demonstrated satisfactory bonding strength and durability.
- The membranes exhibited water-assisted erase-reprint capabilities and were successfully used as soft photothermal actuators with remote laser control.
Conclusions:
- The PVA-bridged interlocking structure effectively enhances interfacial bonding between LMNPs and polymer substrates.
- The developed LM/polymer membranes offer a promising platform for advanced soft electronic applications, including sensors and actuators.
- This approach provides a versatile strategy for fabricating robust and functional LM/polymer composites.
