Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal
Soft electronics can seamlessly integrate with the human skin which will greatly improve the quality of life in the fields of healthcare monitoring, disease treatment, virtual reality, and human-machine interfaces. Currently, the stretchability of most soft electronics is achieved by incorporating s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1178995/full |
| _version_ | 1797837962881269760 |
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| author | Bowen Yang Zihan Yang Lixue Tang Lixue Tang |
| author_facet | Bowen Yang Zihan Yang Lixue Tang Lixue Tang |
| author_sort | Bowen Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soft electronics can seamlessly integrate with the human skin which will greatly improve the quality of life in the fields of healthcare monitoring, disease treatment, virtual reality, and human-machine interfaces. Currently, the stretchability of most soft electronics is achieved by incorporating stretchable conductors with elastic substrates. Among stretchable conductors, liquid metals stand out for their metal-grade conductivity, liquid-grade deformability, and relatively low cost. However, the elastic substrates usually composed of silicone rubber, polyurethane, and hydrogels have poor air permeability, and long-term exposure can cause skin redness and irritation. The substrates composed of fibers usually have excellent air permeability due to their high porosity, making them ideal substrates for soft electronics in long-term applications. Fibers can be woven directly into various shapes, or formed into various shapes on the mold by spinning techniques such as electrospinning. Here, we provide an overview of fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metals. An introduction to the spinning technology is provided. Typical applications and patterning strategies of liquid metal are presented. We review the latest progress in the design and fabrication of representative liquid metal fibers and their application in soft electronics such as conductors, sensors, and energy harvesting. Finally, we discuss the challenges of fiber-based soft electronics and provide an outlook on future prospects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:33:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-424b76d14bcd496580ef71726708f35d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:33:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-424b76d14bcd496580ef71726708f35d2023-04-28T04:37:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852023-04-011110.3389/fbioe.2023.11789951178995Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metalBowen Yang0Zihan Yang1Lixue Tang2Lixue Tang3Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaFashion Accessory Art and Engineering College, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaSoft electronics can seamlessly integrate with the human skin which will greatly improve the quality of life in the fields of healthcare monitoring, disease treatment, virtual reality, and human-machine interfaces. Currently, the stretchability of most soft electronics is achieved by incorporating stretchable conductors with elastic substrates. Among stretchable conductors, liquid metals stand out for their metal-grade conductivity, liquid-grade deformability, and relatively low cost. However, the elastic substrates usually composed of silicone rubber, polyurethane, and hydrogels have poor air permeability, and long-term exposure can cause skin redness and irritation. The substrates composed of fibers usually have excellent air permeability due to their high porosity, making them ideal substrates for soft electronics in long-term applications. Fibers can be woven directly into various shapes, or formed into various shapes on the mold by spinning techniques such as electrospinning. Here, we provide an overview of fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metals. An introduction to the spinning technology is provided. Typical applications and patterning strategies of liquid metal are presented. We review the latest progress in the design and fabrication of representative liquid metal fibers and their application in soft electronics such as conductors, sensors, and energy harvesting. Finally, we discuss the challenges of fiber-based soft electronics and provide an outlook on future prospects.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1178995/fullliquid metalfibersoft electronicsstretchable conductorsspinning |
| spellingShingle | Bowen Yang Zihan Yang Lixue Tang Lixue Tang Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology liquid metal fiber soft electronics stretchable conductors spinning |
| title | Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal |
| title_full | Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal |
| title_fullStr | Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal |
| title_short | Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal |
| title_sort | recent progress in fiber based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal |
| topic | liquid metal fiber soft electronics stretchable conductors spinning |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1178995/full |
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