Soft shape-programmable surfaces by fast electromagnetic actuation of liquid metal networks

Xinchen Ni; Haiwen Luan; Jin Tae Kim; Sam I. Rogge; Yun Bai; Jean Won Kwak; Shangliangzi Liu; Da Som Yang; Shuo Li; Shupeng Li; Zhengwei Li; Yamin Zhang; Changsheng Wu; Xiaoyue Ni; Yonggang Huang; Heling Wang; John A. Rogers

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-31092-y

Soft shape-programmable surfaces by fast electromagnetic actuation of liquid metal networks

Xinchen Ni, Haiwen Luan, Jin Tae Kim, Sam I. Rogge, Yun Bai, Jean Won Kwak, Shangliangzi Liu, Da Som Yang, Shuo Li, Shupeng Li, Zhengwei Li, Yamin Zhang, Changsheng Wu, Xiaoyue Ni^*, Yonggang Huang, Heling Wang, John A. Rogers

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Low modulus materials that can shape-morph into different three-dimensional (3D) configurations in response to external stimuli have wide-ranging applications in flexible/stretchable electronics, surgical instruments, soft machines and soft robotics. This paper reports a shape-programmable system that exploits liquid metal microfluidic networks embedded in an elastomer matrix, with electromagnetic forms of actuation, to achieve a unique set of properties. Specifically, this materials structure is capable of fast, continuous morphing into a diverse set of continuous, complex 3D surfaces starting from a two-dimensional (2D) planar configuration, with fully reversible operation. Computational, multi-physics modeling methods and advanced 3D imaging techniques enable rapid, real-time transformations between target shapes. The liquid-solid phase transition of the liquid metal allows for shape fixation and reprogramming on demand. An unusual vibration insensitive, dynamic 3D display screen serves as an application example of this type of morphable surface.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	5576
Journal	Nature communications
Volume	13
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31092-y
State	Published - Dec 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Chemistry(all)
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
General
Physics and Astronomy(all)

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10.1038/s41467-022-31092-y

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title = "Soft shape-programmable surfaces by fast electromagnetic actuation of liquid metal networks",

abstract = "Low modulus materials that can shape-morph into different three-dimensional (3D) configurations in response to external stimuli have wide-ranging applications in flexible/stretchable electronics, surgical instruments, soft machines and soft robotics. This paper reports a shape-programmable system that exploits liquid metal microfluidic networks embedded in an elastomer matrix, with electromagnetic forms of actuation, to achieve a unique set of properties. Specifically, this materials structure is capable of fast, continuous morphing into a diverse set of continuous, complex 3D surfaces starting from a two-dimensional (2D) planar configuration, with fully reversible operation. Computational, multi-physics modeling methods and advanced 3D imaging techniques enable rapid, real-time transformations between target shapes. The liquid-solid phase transition of the liquid metal allows for shape fixation and reprogramming on demand. An unusual vibration insensitive, dynamic 3D display screen serves as an application example of this type of morphable surface.",

author = "Xinchen Ni and Haiwen Luan and Kim, {Jin Tae} and Rogge, {Sam I.} and Yun Bai and Kwak, {Jean Won} and Shangliangzi Liu and Yang, {Da Som} and Shuo Li and Shupeng Li and Zhengwei Li and Yamin Zhang and Changsheng Wu and Xiaoyue Ni and Yonggang Huang and Heling Wang and Rogers, {John A.}",

note = "Funding Information: Y.H. acknowledges the support from the NSF (CMMI 1635443). J.A.R. acknowledges the support from the Army Research Office MURI (W911NF-17-1-0351). This work made use of the NUFAB facility of Northwestern University{\textquoteright}s NUANCE Center, which has received support from the SHyNE Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205), the IIN, and Northwestern{\textquoteright}s MRSEC program (NSF DMR-1720139). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",

year = "2022",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1038/s41467-022-31092-y",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "13",

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AU - Ni, Xinchen

AU - Luan, Haiwen

AU - Kim, Jin Tae

AU - Rogge, Sam I.

AU - Bai, Yun

AU - Kwak, Jean Won

AU - Liu, Shangliangzi

AU - Yang, Da Som

AU - Li, Shuo

AU - Li, Shupeng

AU - Li, Zhengwei

AU - Zhang, Yamin

AU - Wu, Changsheng

AU - Ni, Xiaoyue

AU - Huang, Yonggang

AU - Wang, Heling

AU - Rogers, John A.

N1 - Funding Information: Y.H. acknowledges the support from the NSF (CMMI 1635443). J.A.R. acknowledges the support from the Army Research Office MURI (W911NF-17-1-0351). This work made use of the NUFAB facility of Northwestern University’s NUANCE Center, which has received support from the SHyNE Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205), the IIN, and Northwestern’s MRSEC program (NSF DMR-1720139). Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).

PY - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

N2 - Low modulus materials that can shape-morph into different three-dimensional (3D) configurations in response to external stimuli have wide-ranging applications in flexible/stretchable electronics, surgical instruments, soft machines and soft robotics. This paper reports a shape-programmable system that exploits liquid metal microfluidic networks embedded in an elastomer matrix, with electromagnetic forms of actuation, to achieve a unique set of properties. Specifically, this materials structure is capable of fast, continuous morphing into a diverse set of continuous, complex 3D surfaces starting from a two-dimensional (2D) planar configuration, with fully reversible operation. Computational, multi-physics modeling methods and advanced 3D imaging techniques enable rapid, real-time transformations between target shapes. The liquid-solid phase transition of the liquid metal allows for shape fixation and reprogramming on demand. An unusual vibration insensitive, dynamic 3D display screen serves as an application example of this type of morphable surface.

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Soft shape-programmable surfaces by fast electromagnetic actuation of liquid metal networks

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