Self-assembled aqueous liquid metal inks for stretchable conductors and circuits

Liquid metals (LMs) characterized with high conductivity and inherent deformability are potential materials for stretchable electronics and circuits. However, technological challenges associated with facile and efficient patterning of LMs currently impede their widespread implementation. Here, we present an environmentally friendly approach for the facile fabrication of stretchable conductors and circuits through the self-assembly of aqueous LM inks. This process leverages the anisotropic surface characteristics that drive the movement of the ink from hydrophobic to hydrophilic regions. Simultaneously, the ink with a stabilizer mitigated the premature deposition of LM particles. This culminated in the precise deposition of LM particles in accordance with the desired patterns on the substrate. The resulting LM patterns exhibit high resolution (<100 μm line width), high conductivity (2.0 × 10⁵ S m−1), and excellent electromechanical durability. Further demonstrated applications including stretchable displays, three-dimensional touch sensors and soft actuators showcase the versatility of this fabrication for stretchable electronics.