Scientists have developed a new kind of “electronic ink” that can be used to print electronic circuits capable of switching between rigid and soft states when heated.
The technology could pave the way for next-generation electronic devices that change shape or stiffness depending on how and where they’re used, from medical implants that soften inside the body to flexible robotics.
The ink combines gallium, a metal that’s solid at room temperature but melts just below body temperature — 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) — with a polymer-based solvent that breaks down when gently heated. The result is a stable, printable substance that becomes conductive after heating and can change its stiffness in response to temperature.
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