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Mechanoresponsive Polymerized Liquid Metal Networks
Author(s) -
Thrasher Carl J.,
Farrell Zachary J.,
Morris Nicholas J.,
Willey Carson L.,
Tabor Christopher E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201903864
Subject(s) - materials science , liquid metal , polymerization , metal , conductivity , nanotechnology , core (optical fiber) , particle (ecology) , electronics , acrylate , composite material , polymer , metallurgy , electrical engineering , chemistry , oceanography , monomer , engineering , geology
Room‐temperature liquid metals, such as nontoxic gallium alloys, show enormous promise to revolutionize stretchable electronics for next‐generation soft robotic, e‐skin, and wearable technologies. Core–shell particles of liquid metal with surface‐bound acrylate ligands are synthesized and polymerized together to create cross‐linked particle networks comprising >99.9% liquid metal by weight. When stretched, particles within these polymerized liquid metal networks (Poly‐LMNs) rupture and release their liquid metal payload, resulting in a rapid 10 8 ‐fold increase in the network's conductivity. These networks autonomously form hierarchical structures that mitigate the deleterious effects of strain on electronic performance and give rise to emergent properties. Notable characteristics include nearly constant resistances over large strains, electronic strain memory, and increasing volumetric conductivity with strain to over 20 000 S cm −1 at >700% elongation. Furthermore, these Poly‐LMNs exhibit exceptional performance as stretchable heaters, retaining 96% of their areal power across relevant physiological strains. Remarkable electromechanical properties, responsive behaviors, and facile processing make Poly‐LMNs ideal for stretchable power delivery, sensing, and circuitry.