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Evaporation-induced sintering of liquid metal droplets with biological nanofibrils for flexible conductivity and responsive actuation

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  • Xiankai Li

    (Group of Biomimetic Smart Materials Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center of Material and Optoelectronics Engineering University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Mingjie Li

    (Group of Biomimetic Smart Materials Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jie Xu

    (Group of Biomimetic Smart Materials Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center of Material and Optoelectronics Engineering University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jun You

    (Group of Biomimetic Smart Materials Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhiqin Yang

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Chaoxu Li

    (Group of Biomimetic Smart Materials Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center of Material and Optoelectronics Engineering University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Liquid metal (LM) droplets show the superiority in coalescing into integral liquid conductors applicable in flexible and deformable electronics. However, the large surface tension, oxide shells and poor compatibility with most other materials may prevent spontaneous coalescence of LM droplets and/or hybridisation into composites, unless external interventions (e.g., shear and laser) are applied. Here, we show that biological nanofibrils (NFs; including cellulose, silk fibroin and amyloid) enable evaporation-induced sintering of LM droplets under ambient conditions into conductive coating on diverse substrates and free-standing films. The resultants possess an insulating NFs-rich layer and a conductive LM-rich layer, offering flexibility, high reflectivity, stretchable conductivity, electromagnetic shielding, degradability and rapid actuating behaviours. Thus this sintering approach not only extends fundamental knowledge about sintering LM droplets, but also starts a new scenario of producing flexible coating and free-standing composites with flexibility, conductivity, sustainability and degradability, and applicable in microcircuits, wearable electronics and soft robotics.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiankai Li & Mingjie Li & Jie Xu & Jun You & Zhiqin Yang & Chaoxu Li, 2019. "Evaporation-induced sintering of liquid metal droplets with biological nanofibrils for flexible conductivity and responsive actuation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11466-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11466-5
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    1. Shiyuan Liu & Ying Hong & Wang Hong & Yi Zheng & Xiaodan Yang & Xuemu Li & Zhuomin Zhang & Xiaodong Yan & Yao Shan & Weikang Lin & Zehua Peng & Xingqi Zhang & Xi Yao & Zuankai Wang & Zhengbao Yang, 2024. "Stress-eliminated liquid-phase fabrication of colloidal films above the critical crack thickness," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Wang, Qiao & Ye, Min & Cai, Xue & Sauer, Dirk Uwe & Li, Weihan, 2023. "Transferable data-driven capacity estimation for lithium-ion batteries with deep learning: A case study from laboratory to field applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    3. Zewen Lin & Xiaowen Qiu & Zhouqishuo Cai & Jialiang Li & Yanan Zhao & Xinping Lin & Jinmeng Zhang & Xiaolan Hu & Hua Bai, 2024. "High internal phase emulsions gel ink for direct-ink-writing 3D printing of liquid metal," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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