am9b08067_si_004.mp4 (30.44 MB)
Semiliquid Metal Enabled Highly Conductive Wearable Electronics for Smart Fabrics
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posted on 2019-08-07, 13:34 authored by Rui Guo, Huimin Wang, Xuyang Sun, Siyuan Yao, Hao Chang, Hongzhang Wang, Jing Liu, Yingying ZhangWearable
electronics incorporating electronic components into commonly
used fabrics can serve as new-generation personalized health-care
systems for applications ranging from health-care monitoring to disease
treatment. Conventional rigid materials including gold, silver, and
copper generally require a complicated fabrication process to be sewn
into clothes. At the same time, other high-stretchable nonmetal materials
such as conductive polymers generally have a limitation of low electroconductivity,
restricting their further applications. Recently, gallium-based liquid
metals have exhibited superior advantages in flexible electronics
and have presented valuable potential in creative printing technologies.
Here, we proposed a novel wearable electronics prepared through roller
printing technology based on the adhesion difference of semiliquid
metal (Cu-EGaIn, eutectic gallium-indium mixed with copper microparticles)
on cotton fabrics and polyvinyl acetate (PVAC) glue. Results have
shown that the surface topography and chemical interaction of fabrics
and PVAC glue determine the adhesion effect with the Cu-EGaIn mixture.
The electric experiments have demonstrated the electromechanical stability
of the fabricated lines on fabrics. Further, a series of smart fabrics
were developed including an interactive circuit, stretchable light-emitting
diode array, and thermal management device with advantages of easy
operation, low cost, and large-area fabrication to show practical
applications in the method. This strategy may play an important role
in the design and fabrication of smart fabrics, contributing to the
development of customized health-care systems.