US 12,093,381 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 Jun. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/342,790.
Application 18/342,790 is a continuation of application No. 17/376,644, filed on Jul. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,734,422.
Application 17/376,644 is a continuation of application No. 16/580,601, filed on Sep. 24, 2019, granted, now 11,100,223, issued on Aug. 24, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/754,624, filed on Nov. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0342457 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 21/55 (2013.01); G06F 21/75 (2013.01); H01B 1/08 (2006.01); H01B 1/22 (2006.01)
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)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article, said article being a stretchable conductor comprising 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, 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, 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 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; said stretchable conductor having one or more of the following properties:
a) a conductivity increase of about 5 to about 10 orders of magnitude over an initial elongation of about 1% to about 300%;
b) a repeatable resistance variation of less than 100% over an elongation of about 150% to about 750%;
c) a repeatable resistance decrease of greater than 0% to about 20% over a range of elongation from greater than 0% to about 100%, a repeatable resistance decrease of greater than 5% to about 20% over a range of elongation from greater than 0% to about 100%, or a repeatable resistance decrease of greater than 0% to about 10% over a range of elongation from greater than 0% to about 50%.