Future devices, such as electronics and robotics, are envisioned to be soft and stretchable similar to human tissue. Previously we showed it is possible to create stretchable wires using liquid metals by injecting liquid metal into tubing:

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Here, we show it is possible to assemble these wires from droplets using a technique called "dielectrophoresis". This technique uses electric fields to cause the droplets to align and assemble into conductive microwires. By assembling the wires in silicone, we can cure the silicone (using heat) to create a rubbery material with metallic conductivity.

There are several advances here:

1. Because the particles are liquid, they merge together to form a metallic wire. This can be done at very low loading of particles (5-10%), whereas past work required 80-90%.

2. The use of liquid metal in silicone allows the wires to be stretchable without changing resistance.

3. The "ink" can be deposited in places where conductors have been damaged. The assembly of the particles can "heal" the broken wire both mechanically and electrically.

This work was published in Advanced Materials:

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Want to learn more? Consider this webinar:

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