Electrochemical Redox Synergism‐Enhanced Liquid Metal Locomotion for Unrestricted Circuit Substrate Patterning

Abstract The critical challenge in advancing liquid metal circuits (LMCs) lies in achieving interfacial compatibility with diverse substrates while dynamically balancing fabrication efficiency and quality to ensure robust conductive stability. Here we introduce an electrochemical redox synergistic liquid metal (E‐ rs LM) that enables the controllable generation of diverse intermetallic bond transition layers (Cu, Au, or Fe‐based) between liquid metal and unrestricted substrate surfaces, applicable in pH‐universal electrolytes. It involves enhanced locomotion of the liquid metal, driven by synergistic electrochemical energy transduction from cyclic changes in gallium redox states. Characterized by expansion‐contraction‐expansion, it enables unique self‐propelled bouncing, tuning spreading speed (up to ~26.8 mm/s) and elongation rate (up to 1192 %) with a volume of only 80 μL. Additionally, we demonstrate the adaptability of E‐ rs LM fabrication across 30 different substrates, highlighting its versatility. The patterning displays the superimposed efficiency and self‐indicated quality, leading to superior conductivity (with time‐cost savings of 30.7 % and 13.4 % in heating‐cooling cycles, and a nearly 90 % reduction in output resistance). The practical viability of these circuits is further showcased by the assembly of integrated circuits, marking a significant step in expanding LMCs applications beyond laboratory‐scale prototypes.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2025-02-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202424637
Primary Topic
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Electrochemical Redox Synergism‐Enhanced Liquid Metal Locomotion for Unrestricted Circuit Substrate Patterning

Shuli Wang, Xu Hou, Yigang Shen, Yi Fan et al.
Angewandte Chemie
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
article

Electrochemical Redox Synergism‐Enhanced Liquid Metal Locomotion for Unrestricted Circuit Substrate Patterning

Shuli Wang, Xu Hou, Yigang Shen, Yi Fan, Tete Liu, Wenli Zhang, Jing Zheng, Yilan Wang, Guochao Zeng
article en

Abstract

Abstract The critical challenge in advancing liquid metal circuits (LMCs) lies in achieving interfacial compatibility with diverse substrates while dynamically balancing fabrication efficiency and quality to ensure robust conductive stability. Here we introduce an electrochemical redox synergistic liquid metal (E‐ rs LM) that enables the controllable generation of diverse intermetallic bond transition layers (Cu, Au, or Fe‐based) between liquid metal and unrestricted substrate surfaces, applicable in pH‐universal electrolytes. It involves enhanced locomotion of the liquid metal, driven by synergistic electrochemical energy transduction from cyclic changes in gallium redox states. Characterized by expansion‐contraction‐expansion, it enables unique self‐propelled bouncing, tuning spreading speed (up to ~26.8 mm/s) and elongation rate (up to 1192 %) with a volume of only 80 μL. Additionally, we demonstrate the adaptability of E‐ rs LM fabrication across 30 different substrates, highlighting its versatility. The patterning displays the superimposed efficiency and self‐indicated quality, leading to superior conductivity (with time‐cost savings of 30.7 % and 13.4 % in heating‐cooling cycles, and a nearly 90 % reduction in output resistance). The practical viability of these circuits is further showcased by the assembly of integrated circuits, marking a significant step in expanding LMCs applications beyond laboratory‐scale prototypes.

Angewandte ChemieVol. 137(17)
Zhejiang Normal University (CN), Xiamen University (CN), Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 97%
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.