Biological Sciences Division
Published August 29, 2025 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

High-resolution liquid metal–based stretchable electronics enabled by colloidal self-assembly and microtransfer printing

Creators

  • 1. University of Southern California
  • 2. Northwestern University
  • 3. University of Chicago

Description

Liquid metal–based stretchable electronics offer high electrical performance and seamless integration with deformable systems but face challenges in achieving scalable, high-resolution patterning. In this work, we present a method for micropatterning liquid metal particle (LMP) films with feature sizes as small as 5 micrometers by integrating electrostatically enabled colloidal self-assembly and microtransfer printing. The resulting cold-welded LMP micropatterns exhibit exceptional electromechanical properties, high conductivity (2.4 × 106 siemens per meter), stretchability (more than 1200%), and strain- and pressure-insensitive resistance, owing to their multiscale and dynamic morphologies. Demonstrations in highly stretchable strain sensors and cardiac mapping devices highlight the capabilities of this method for creating high-performance, highly stretchable electronic systems. Notably, balloon catheter–integrated LMP microelectrode arrays show low impedance under extreme deformations and enable high-resolution endocardial electrogram mapping inside the human heart. This method expands the potential of liquid metal–based stretchable electronics for a wide range of applications, including implantable biomedical devices and soft robotics.

Data availability

All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Materials.

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1126/sciadv.adw3044
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:16187

Funding

National Science Foundation
2442827
National Institutes of Health
1U41NS129514
National Institutes of Health
HL141470
National Institutes of Health
HL165002
National Institutes of Health
K08HL169904
National Institutes of Health
1R35HL161249-01
University of Southern California
Leducq foundation for cardiovascular research
AWD00001180
National Institutes of Health
RO1 HL168117-01

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Biological Sciences Division
Department(s)
Medicine