Non-Volatile Surface Tension-Driven Electrochemical Liquid Metal Actuator

Patent Status

Patent Pending

Brief Description

UC Berkeley researchers have developed a surface-tension driven electrochemical liquid metal (LM) actuator without the gas-producing side-reaction. The actuator is and capable for fabrication/operation in ambient air for practical applications. A 2Å~4 LM droplet array is demonstrated to actuate by a low voltage of 3.5 V for a maximum force of ~8.5 mN and a displacement of 0.56 mm in only 1.75 s. With the favorable scaling law of surface tension, further downscaling could provide new opportunities in applications such as microrobotics, microfluidics, soft robotics, and so on.

Suggested uses

• Semiconductor manufacture

Advantages

• Does not generate gas bubbles 
• Does not require operation in liquid