Liquid metal-filled magnetorheological elastomer with positive piezoconductivity

Yun, Guolin, Tang, Shi Yang, Sun, Shuaishuai, Yuan, Dan, Zhao, Qianbin, Deng, Lei, Yan, Sheng, Du, Haiping, Dickey, Michael D. and Li, Weihua (2019) Liquid metal-filled magnetorheological elastomer with positive piezoconductivity. Nature Communications, 10 (1), [1300]. (doi:10.1038/s41467-019-09325-4).

Abstract

Conductive elastic composites have been used widely in soft electronics and soft robotics. These composites are typically a mixture of conductive fillers within elastomeric substrates. They can sense strain via changes in resistance resulting from separation of the fillers during elongation. Thus, most elastic composites exhibit a negative piezoconductive effect, i.e. the conductivity decreases under tensile strain. This property is undesirable for stretchable conductors since such composites may become less conductive during deformation. Here, we report a liquid metal-filled magnetorheological elastomer comprising a hybrid of fillers of liquid metal microdroplets and metallic magnetic microparticles. The composite’s resistivity reaches a maximum value in the relaxed state and drops drastically under any deformation, indicating that the composite exhibits an unconventional positive piezoconductive effect. We further investigate the magnetic field-responsive thermal properties of the composite and demonstrate several proof-of-concept applications. This composite has prospective applications in sensors, stretchable conductors, and responsive thermal interfaces.

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Contributors

Author: Shi Yang Tang

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