Liquid Metal Electrode Ink With Light-Sintered Oxide Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid metals with high surface tension cannot be used for coating or printing processes, and when surface oxide films are formed to reduce surface tension, the resulting liquid metal ink lacks conductivity.

Innovation Solution

A composite ink is created by mixing metal nanoparticles with a high light energy absorption rate, metal micron particles, and a liquid metal, which is then applied to a substrate and irradiated with light to remove the surface oxide film, ensuring high conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If surface oxide film is formed on liquid metal to reduce surface tension for coating and printing processes, then coating and printing become possible, but conductivity cannot be secured due to the surface oxide film

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating and printing capabilityVSAvoidconductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming the surface oxide film on liquid metal before the coating/printing process to enable these operations, then subsequently removes the oxide film after patterning to restore conductivity. This sequential application of the principle allows the process to benefit from both the oxide film's surface tension reduction and its eventual removal for conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs discarding and recovering by temporarily forming the surface oxide film to enable coating and printing processes, then removing and discarding this oxide film layer after the patterning is complete to recover the underlying liquid metal's conductivity for functional operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If liquid metal is used directly without surface oxide film for coating and printing, then conductivity is maintained, but coating and printing processes cannot be performed due to high surface tension

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconductivityVSAvoidcoating and printing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The surface oxide film acts as an intermediary substance that temporarily modifies the liquid metal's properties to enable coating and printing processes. This intermediary layer facilitates manufacturing operations that would otherwise be impossible, while being removable to restore the original functional properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If metal nanoparticles with high light energy absorption rate are added to liquid metal to remove surface oxide film through light irradiation, then conductivity is restored, but the composite ink formulation becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconductivityVSAvoidcomposite ink formulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by incorporating metal nanoparticles with specific optical properties (high light energy absorption rate) into the liquid metal formulation. This changes the optical parameters of the composite ink, enabling selective light absorption that drives the oxide film removal process while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by creating a composite ink formulation that integrates liquid metal, metal nanoparticles, and other components. This composite structure combines the beneficial properties of each material: liquid metal provides conductivity and flexibility, while metal nanoparticles provide light energy absorption for oxide film removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method allows for the production of flexible and stretchable electrodes with high conductivity, maintaining stable resistance change characteristics even under bending conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the metal nanoparticles may absorb light energy and form cracks in the surface oxide film through temperature change to destroy the surface oxide film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight energy absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the metal nanoparticles may absorb light energy and form cracks in the surface oxide film through temperature change

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS12264254B2Liquid metal-based electrode and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY COOPERATION GROUP OF KYUNG HEE UNIVERSITY

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid metal-based electrode using a light sintering process. The method of manufacturing a liquid metal-based electrode includes a step of preparing a metal nanoparticle solution, a step of adding metal micron particles and a surface modifier to the metal nanoparticle solution to prepare a mixed solution, a step of adding a liquid metal to the mixed solution to prepare a composite ink containing the liquid metal having a surface oxide film formed thereon, a step of forming an electrode by applying the composite ink onto a substrate, and a step of irradiating the electrode with light to destroy the surface oxide film.