puc-header

Liquid Metal Composites with Anisotropic and Unconventional Piezoconductivity

52 Pages Posted: 30 Mar 2020 Publication Status: Published

See all articles by Guolin Yun

Guolin Yun

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering

Shiyang Tang

University of Birmingham - Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering

Qianbin Zhao

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering

Yuxin Zhang

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering

Hongda Lu

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering

Dan Yuan

University of Tokyo - Department of Chemistry

Shuaishuai Sun

Tohoku University - New Industry Creation Hatchery Center

Lei Deng

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering

Michael D. Dickey

North Carolina State University - Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Weihua Li

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering

More...

Abstract

Anisotropic elastic composites−that is, elastomers containing aligned fillers−often have enhanced properties in the direction of alignment. Depending on the fillers, these composites can have desirable electrical, thermal, or mechanical properties. Here, a silicone composite filled with both solid magnetic metal microparticles and liquid metal microdroplets has been developed. Aligning the solid particles within a magnetic field during curing imparts anisotropy in several properties. Thus, the composite is called an anisotropic liquid metal-filled magnetorheological elastomer (ALMMRE). Compared to isotropic liquid metal-filled composites, the conductivity of the ALMMRE is significantly enhanced in all directions. The ALMMRE also exhibits anisotropic piezoconductivity and a significantly enhanced electrical anisotropy under mechanical deformation; these properties are not observed in conventional anisotropic composites. The ALMMRE also shows anisotropic mechanical, thermal and magnetic properties and demonstrates its several proof-of-concept applications. The sensitivity of the ALMMRE’s properties to strain may help advance future flexible sensors and soft electronics.

Keywords: Liquid metal, EGaIn, anisotropic conductive composite, magnetic field alignment, opposite piezoconductivity

Suggested Citation

Yun, Guolin and Tang, Shiyang and Zhao, Qianbin and Zhang, Yuxin and Lu, Hongda and Yuan, Dan and Sun, Shuaishuai and Deng, Lei and Dickey, Michael D. and Li, Weihua, Liquid Metal Composites with Anisotropic and Unconventional Piezoconductivity. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3554082 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3554082
This version of the paper has not been formally peer reviewed.

Guolin Yun

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering ( email )

Wollongong, NSW2522
Australia

Shiyang Tang (Contact Author)

University of Birmingham - Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering ( email )

Birmingham
United Kingdom

Qianbin Zhao

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering ( email )

Wollongong, NSW2522
Australia

Yuxin Zhang

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering

Wollongong, NSW2522
Australia

Hongda Lu

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering ( email )

Wollongong, NSW2522
Australia

Dan Yuan

University of Tokyo - Department of Chemistry

Yayoi 1-1-1
Bunkyo-ku
Tokyo, 113-8657
Japan

Shuaishuai Sun

Tohoku University - New Industry Creation Hatchery Center ( email )

Sendai, 980-8577
Japan

Lei Deng

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering

Wollongong, NSW2522
Australia

Michael D. Dickey

North Carolina State University - Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering ( email )

Centennial Campus Box 7905
911 Partners Way
Raleigh, NC 27695
United States

Weihua Li

University of Wollongong - School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering ( email )

Wollongong, NSW2522
Australia

Click here to go to Cell.com

Paper statistics

Downloads
23
Abstract Views
519
PlumX Metrics