US 11,734,422 B2
Core shell liquid metal encapsulates comprising multi-functional ligands and networks comprising same
Carl J. Thrasher, Beavercreek, OH (US); Christopher E. Tabor, Kettering, OH (US); Zachary J. Farrell, Xenia, OH (US); and Nicholas J. Morris, Dayton, OH (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed by Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed on Jul. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/376,644.
Application 17/376,644 is a continuation of application No. 16/580,601, filed on Sep. 24, 2019, granted, now 11,100,223.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/754,624, filed on Nov. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0365552 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01B 1/22 (2006.01); H01B 1/08 (2006.01); G06F 21/55 (2013.01); G06F 21/75 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 21/554 (2013.01) [G06F 21/556 (2013.01); G06F 21/755 (2017.08); H01B 1/08 (2013.01); H01B 1/22 (2013.01); G06F 2221/034 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An encapsulate comprising a liquid metal core having an external surface, a metal oxide shell that encapsulates said liquid metal core, said shell having an external shell surface; and one or more multi-functional ligands covalently bound to said shell's external surface and/or coordinatively bound to said liquid metal core's external surface:
a) said liquid metal core comprising a liquid metal selected from the group consisting of Hg, Pb, Sn, Sb, Cd, Bi, Ga, In, Al, Zn, Ag, Au, Tl and mixtures thereof,
b) said shell comprising a metal oxide comprising a cation derived from a metal selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, Sn, Pb, Sb, Cd, Al, Zn, Tl, Bi, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Te, Gd, Hf, Pr, Nd, Pt, Sm, Eu, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Pu and mixtures thereof; and
c) said one or more multi-functional ligands comprising a head group that comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thiols, amines, phosphonic acids, alkoxysilanes, halosilanes, nitriles, and mixtures thereof.