Liquid-Metal Electronics
Goals
Design, fabrication, testing, and analysis of various reconfigurable electronic devices using liquid metal.
Issues Involved or Addressed
Our group is researching ways to geometrically reconfigure liquid-metal elements to enable reconfigurable electronics. Liquid metals can reflow to form conductive elements of varying shapes and sizes, resulting in the tuning of circuits. Microfabricated fluidic technology (microfluidics) provides precise control of small liquid volumes; we can use this to make reconfigurable electronics. Our aim is to make the tuning of electronic devices as straightforward as drawing patterns on an Etch-A-Sketch toy. Thus far, we have used liquid metals to implement antennas and filters that can be tuned to different frequencies, and tunable matching networks that can be used to efficiently couple RF components.
Methods and Technologies
Academic Majors of Interest
Preferred Interests and Preparation
Interest in microfabrication, microfluidics, microwave electronics, antennas, packaging