Fluidic‐Enabled Formation of EGaIn Capsules and Droplets With Tunable Surface Chemistry and Electromechanics
The combination of high electrical conductivity and fluidity and biocompatibility exists in liquid metals including eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) but their application remains restricted because of spontaneous oxide development and unstable flow behavior. Here we describe a microfluidic method to create EGaIn droplets and capsules with adjustable dimensions and mechanical and surface properties. The acidity level of the suspending fluid, ethanol, determines whether EGaIn will create oxide-covered capsules or non-oxidized liquid droplets. The oxide coating stabilizes spherical shapes, which deform irreversibly. Droplets readily reform into spheres after applied stress is removed, but are susceptible to coalescence. A thiolated PEG-click complex forms self-assembling structures at metal-liquid interfaces to protect droplets from merging while allowing surface modification. When cast in thin films, the fluidic-generated EGaIn structures exhibit different electromechanical responses: oxide-coated capsules function as field-effect elements while thiol-stabilized droplets operate as ohmic conductors. By integrating microfluidic generation, shape programmability, and chemical stabilization, we open new pathways to multifunctional liquid-metal architectures with controllable electromechanical response.
Authors
- Sara M. Hashmi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2298-4392)
- Giovanni Traverso
- Avi J. Patel
- Benjamin N. Muller
Institutions
- Broad Institute (US)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Northeastern University (US)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small
- Published
- 2026-04-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.73329
- Primary Topic
- Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation