Robust Pressure-Actuated Liquid Metal Devices Showing Reconfigurable Electromagnetic Effects at GHz Frequencies

Pressure-actuated liquid metal devices are demonstrated for reconfigurable electromagnetic fundamentals at GHz frequencies, including tunable dipole antennas, switchable shielding with 35-dB attenuation, ~ 30-dB polarizer attenuation, and ~ 40° diffraction from a linear grating. In addition to a wide variety of electromagnetic effects, these devices are further advanced by: being highly physically flexible; in use of nontoxic GaInSn (68.5% Ga, 21.5% In, and 10.0% Sn) alloy as enabled by a sealed closed system with an acidic vapor background; and nonalloying/corrosion-resistant carbon inks for electrical connection. Collectively, this work addresses a wide variety of electromagnetic fundamentals, and the device construction advances required for real-world applications.

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