Designable Electrical/Thermal Coordinated Dual-Regulation Based on Liquid Metal Shape Memory Polymer Foam for Smart...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Tunable electronic components with controlled thermal conductivity are crucial for advanced electronics, smart switches, and soft robots.
• A significant challenge exists in developing materials that stably and reversibly modulate both electrical resistance and thermal conductivity without persistent external forces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel material capable of achieving coordinated dual-regulation of electrical and thermal properties.
• To demonstrate a strategy for creating materials with tunable resistance and thermal conductivity using a shape memory effect.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a liquid metal shape memory polymer foam (LM-SMF) by incorporating electrically and thermally conductive liquid metal (LM) into a deformable foam structure.
• Utilizing the thermal response shape memory effect of the foam skeleton to reversibly alter the connectivity of the embedded liquid metal.

Main Results:

• The developed LM-SMF exhibits a stable, reversible change in electrical resistance from 0.8 Ω (conductor) to 200 MΩ (insulator).
• A significant modulation in thermal conductivity was observed, with a difference of up to 4.71 times (0.108 to 0.509 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹).
• The material demonstrates coordinated electrical and thermal dual-regulation, functioning as a smart switch with self-feedback/warning capabilities or a tunable infrared stealth switch.

Conclusions:

• A novel strategy for achieving electrical-thermal coordinated dual-regulation in materials has been proposed.
• The LM-SMF offers a promising platform for applications in intelligent heating systems with real-time monitoring and electrothermal sensors.