Connecting electronics in liquid metal

The metallic alloy reacts with oxygen at room temperature to form freestanding structures made of the mixed gallium and indium composition.

Michael Dickey, co-author of ‘3-D Printing of Free Standing Liquid Metal Microstructures’, which describes the technique in detail, stated: “It’s difficult to create structures out of liquids, because liquids want to bead up.”

Dickey also noted that the liquid alloy his team has created is capable of creating such structures due to its unique ‘skin’ which forms at the point of reaction – a key component in the retention of shape.

The challenge lies in forming metal shapes that reach up and down

The researchers have adapted multiple techniques for creating these structures, in an effort to connect electronic components in three dimensions.

Although the researchers stated the process of patterning the metal in plane was relatively straightforward, they said the challenge lies in forming metal shapes that reach up and down.

One technique involved stacking droplets of the liquid metal which adhere to one another without compromising their shape or cascading into a single, larger droplet.

A further technique developed by Dickey and his team involved injecting liquid metal into a polymer template to force the metal to take a particular shape.

The team is expected to further their research and development to explore the potential of using the technology within various electronics applications in conjunction with current 3D printing technologies.