An interdisciplinary research team led by Prof. ZHENG Zijian, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute of Smart Energy (RISE), Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices, and Professor in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, has developed liquid metal microelectrodes (μLMEs) which are suitable for skin-attachable and implantable electronic devices.
The team’s pioneering study, “Wafer-patterned, permeable, and stretchable liquid metal microelectrodes for implantable bioelectronics with chronic biocompatibility”, was published in Science Advances. Wearable or implantable bio-electronic technology requires unique properties that differ from those of conventional electronics. The developed μLMEs are stretchable, soft and permeable, and can therefore be worn or implanted without causing discomfort or harm to users. The conductive component of the μLMEs is made from eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn), a liquid metal alloy which allows the μLMEs to retain high conductivity under strain.
Science Advances: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg8602
