Intrinsically Stretchable Biphasic (Solid-Liquid) Thin Metal Films

Arthur Hirsch; Hadrien O Michaud; Aaron P Gerratt; Séverine de Mulatier; Stéphanie P Lacour

doi:10.1002/adma.201506234

Intrinsically Stretchable Biphasic (Solid-Liquid) Thin Metal Films

Adv Mater. 2016 Jun;28(22):4507-12. doi: 10.1002/adma.201506234. Epub 2016 Feb 29.

Authors

Arthur Hirsch¹, Hadrien O Michaud¹, Aaron P Gerratt¹, Séverine de Mulatier¹, Stéphanie P Lacour¹

Affiliation

¹ Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Neuroprosthetic Technology, Laboratory for Soft Bioelectronic Interfaces, Institute of Microengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Centre for Neuroprosthetics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.

PMID: 26923313
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201506234

Abstract

Stretchable biphasic conductors are formed by physical vapor deposition of gallium onto an alloying metal film. The properties of the photolithography-compatible thin metal films are highlighted by low sheet resistance (0.5 Ω sq(-1) ) and large stretchability (400%). This novel approach to deposit and pattern liquid metals enables extremely robust, multilayer and soft circuits, sensors, and actuators.

Keywords: elasticity; elastomers; electrical conductivity; liquid metals; thin metal films.