TIANJIN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Integrating high-performance circuits into irregular 3D surfaces -- such as helmets, curved panels or artificial joints -- has long been a tough challenge. However, Chinese researchers have recently overcome this hurdle with a new breakthrough: sophisticated electronic circuits that, when treated with warm air or water, can tightly adhere to irregular surfaces, much like shrink-wrap film.
A joint research team from Tianjin University and Tsinghua University has developed a new strategy for fabricating flexible electronics using liquid metal circuits and thermoplastic film. Their findings were published on Monday in the journal Nature Electronics.
To address long-standing difficulties in attaching circuits to curved surfaces -- including poor precision and poor conformability -- the team adopted an innovative approach of using common thermoplastic film as a substrate. This material shrinks when heated, allowing it to wrap snugly around objects.
To prevent circuit cracking during shrinkage, the researchers developed a semi-liquid metal material with high conductivity and good fluidity. Circuits were first "printed" onto a flat film using a self-developed printing technique. After treatment with warm air or water at about 70 degrees Celsius, the planar circuit quickly adapts and conforms to the target shape -- whether an apple, an airplane wing, or a moving finger.
In the field of embodied intelligence, the team has already applied the technology to create custom tactile sensor arrays for robotic arms and heads, endowing robots with sensitive "electronic skin." They also developed a "smart glove" integrated with pressure and temperature sensors, enabling robots to identify objects by touch.
"The potential applications could extend to a wide range of industries," said Jiang Chengjie, the study's first author and a researcher at Tianjin University. For instance, in aerospace, custom heating circuits could be integrated into aircraft wings for efficient de-icing; in healthcare, the technology could enable comfortable, precise health monitoring through smart bandages, Jiang added. ■
