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Direct-Ink-Writing Printed Stretchable Eutectic Gallium-Indium Antenna for Robust Wireless Communication.
Xiangyu Guo1,2, Yufei Liu1,2, Zhizhou Zhou1,2
1Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics and School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|April 2, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a new method for creating high-performance stretchable antennas using modified liquid metal ink. This innovation enables precise, reliable manufacturing for advanced Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Stretchable antennas are crucial for wireless connectivity and the expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
- Eutectic Gallium-Indium (EGaIn) is a suitable conductor for stretchable antennas but poses challenges in precise patterning due to its high surface tension and fluidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a precise and efficient method for fabricating wideband stretchable antennas.
- To overcome the limitations of patterning liquid metal inks for advanced electronic applications.
Main Methods:
- Direct writing of thermoplastic polyurethane-modified EGaIn ink.
- Water-bath ultrasound activation to improve ink properties.
- Characterization of ink rheology, surface energy, conductivity, and antenna performance.
Main Results:
- Achieved high patterning precision of 10 µm with excellent conductivity (1.6 × 10^6 S m^-1).
- The fabricated antenna demonstrated a 75% fractional bandwidth, 76.6% radiation efficiency, and >240% ultimate strain.
- Successful proof-of-concept wireless communication over 50 meters with a stretched or conformally wrapped antenna.
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers an efficient and universal strategy for manufacturing high-performance stretchable antennas.
- This technique has significant potential for enabling advanced IoT technologies and wearable electronics.
- The modified EGaIn ink overcomes previous patterning limitations, paving the way for robust stretchable electronic devices.
