This report explores a synthesis of principles from liquid metal-based flexible electronics and mechanical metamaterials. In such new platforms, mechanical deformation couples with liquid metal microchannels to govern electrical conduction by constriction and release of liquid metal embedded in the soft material. The mechanisms that influence the ability to induce such discrete switch electrical phenomena are identified through studies focused on mechanical design, liquid metal oxidation, and stress thresholds. Through strategic selection of such factors, repeatable switch ability is retained for many stress cycles on the metamaterial, although aging of the phenomena is evident through switch thresholds that reduce with cycles prior to potential failure. These discoveries provide new foundations for self-sensing mechanical metamaterials that leverage an interface of liquid metal coalescence and local mechanical deformation to lead to digital signaling abilities in continuously stressed metamaterials.

本报告探讨了基于液态金属的柔性电子和机械超材料的原理综合。在这样的新平台中，机械变形与液态金属微通道耦合，从而通过收缩和释放嵌入软材料中的液态金属来控制导电。通过专注于机械设计，液态金属氧化和应力阈值的研究，可以确定影响感应此类离散开关电现象能力的机制。通过策略性地选择这些因素，可重复的切换能力在超材料上的许多应力循环中得以保留，尽管现象的老化通过切换阈值显而易见，而切换阈值随着潜在故障之前的循环而降低。