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

Xiankai Li, Mingjie Li (), Jie Xu, Jun You, Zhiqin Yang and Chaoxu Li ()
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Xiankai Li: Group of Biomimetic Smart Materials Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology 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
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

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11466-5

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