Tough Bonding of Liquid Metal‐Elastomer Composites for Multifunctional Adhesives

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2022-10, Vol.18 (41), p.e2203700-n/a
• Main Authors: Pozarycki, Tyler A., Hwang, Dohgyu, Barron, Edward J., Wilcox, Brittan T., Tutika, Ravi, Bartlett, Michael D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesion; Bonding strength; Composite materials; Deformation; Elastomers; Electrical resistivity; Electronic components; Electronic systems; Formability; Liquid metals; Material properties; Modulus of elasticity; Multifunctional materials; Nanotechnology; Robotics; soft composites; soft robotics; Stretchability; stretchable electronics; Substrates; Thermal conductivity
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202203700

Liquid metal (LM) composites, which consist of LM droplets dispersed in highly deformable elastomers, have recently gained interest as a multifunctional material for soft robotics and electronics. The incorporation of LM into elastic solids allows for unique combinations of material properties such as high stretchability with thermal and electrical conductivity comparable to metals. However, it is currently a challenge to incorporate LM composites into integrated systems consisting of diverse materials and components due to a lack of adhesion control. Here, a chemical anchoring methodology to increase adhesion of LM composites to diverse substrates is presented. The fracture energy increases up to 100× relative to untreated surfaces, with values reaching up to 7800 J m−2. Furthermore, the fracture energy, tensile modulus, and thermal conductivity can be tuned together by controlling the microstructure of LM composites. Finally, the bonding technique is used to integrate LM composites with functional electronic components without encapsulation or clamping, allowing for extreme deformations while maintaining exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity. These findings can accelerate the adoption of LM composites into complex soft robotic and electronic systems where strong, reliable bonding between diverse materials and components is required. A chemical anchoring methodology is introduced for strong adhesion of liquid metal composites to diverse surfaces. The fracture energy increases up to 100× relative to untreated surfaces, with values reaching up to 7800 J m−2. This technique integrates liquid metal composites with functional electronic components without encapsulation or clamping, allowing for extreme deformations while maintaining exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity.