Vibration-enabled mobility of liquid metal

Abstract

Abstract Directed liquid metal (gallium-based) manipulation and actuation are paramount for copious applications, including soft robotics, soft electronics, and targeted drug delivery. Although there are several strategies available to achieve mobility of liquid metals in a “wet” environment. Strategies to achieve and improve mobility of liquid metal droplets and puddles in a “dry” environment have been scarce and rely on metallophobic surface design or liquid metal marbles. Here, we discover high mobility of Galinstan achieved by combining metallophobic surface design and vertical vibrations. Vibration frequencies between 20 and 30 Hz were conducive to droplet movement and threshold inclination angles of 0.5 to 1° were observed upon actuation by the vibrations. The method itself is applicable for a wide range of droplet sizes (30 and 2000 µL) and very robust. The droplet movement typically comprises of periodic receding and advancing of the droplet and commences via a rolling mechanism rather than a gliding mechanism. Finally, we show that small (0.5 mm height) obstacles can be traversed by this method, indicating that it can be used in concert with other strategies, such as surface structuring strategies, which open up pathways for mobility and controlled actuation of liquid metal droplets in air.