Flexible Electronic Devices and Wearable Sensors Based on Liquid Metals

Abstract

Stretchable electronic devices play a key role in bridging various components, especially in flexible and complex multifunctional logic circuits, as well as in information recognition and transmission systems. The stretchability and stability of solid metal-based stretchable electrodes are still limited due to their intrinsic rigidity. Liquid metals are one of the most popular materials for stretchable electrodes due to their high conductivity, flexibility, and machinability. However, the surface tension of liquid metals is extremely high at room temperature, hindering their applications. In this review, recent developments of liquid metals as conductive fillers in the field of stretchable electrodes are reviewed in detail firstly. Besides, the combination of liquid metals on different substrates according to their types is classified and summarized. Furthermore, the applications of liquid metal-based flexible electronics with single and multiple functions are systematically discussed. A brief perspective for future research is given. We believe that this review would provide a promising path for the future direction and fabrication of functional and high-performance liquid metal-based devices.