Conductive graphene interfacial barriers for liquid metal electronics
AssigneesNorthwestern University, Government of the United States as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsMark C. Hersam, Ethan B. Secor, Alexander B. Cook, Christopher Tabor
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Abstract
Articles, electronic devices and related methods of fabrication interfacing graphene with a gallium liquid metal alloy.
Claims31
An article of manufacture comprising a gallium liquid metal alloy component coupled to a graphene component comprising at least one of a cellulosic dispersing agent and an annealation product thereof.
An electronic device comprising an electrically-conductive metal component coupled to a substrate, a nanodimensioned gallium-indium liquid metal alloy component coupled to said metal component with a nanodimensioned graphene component, said graphene component comprising at least one of a cellulosic dispersing agent and an annealation product thereof.
A reconfigurable electronic device comprising a liquid metal circuit switch, said switch comprising:
- opposed metal electrodes coupled to a substrate, said electrodes having a voltage thereacross;
- and
- a mobile gallium-indium liquid metal alloy component configured between and coupled to at least one said electrode with a graphene component comprising at least one of a cellulosic dispersing agent and an annealation product thereof,
- whereby configuration of said metal alloy component contacts one said electrode and opens a circuit between said electrodes;
- and whereby reconfiguration of said metal alloy component contacts both said electrodes and closes a circuit therebetween.
A method of using a graphene composition to facilitate stable electrical connection with a gallium liquid metal alloy, said method comprising:
- providing a substrate having an electrically-conductive metal component coupled thereto;
- contacting a graphene composition with said metal component to provide a metal-graphene junction, said graphene composition comprising graphene and at least one of a cellulosic dispersing agent and an annealation product thereof;
- and
- contacting a gallium liquid metal alloy with said graphene composition to provide a graphene-gallium alloy junction, said graphene composition providing an electrically-conductive component between said metal and said gallium liquid metal alloy, thereby modulating alloy formation with said metal component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.