Bonding of liquid-metal elastomer composites to substrates

Abstract

In various aspects, the disclosure relates to methods of adhering a liquid metal composite to a substrate. The method can include applying a pretreatment to a surface of the substrate to form an activated surface. In some aspects, the pretreatment is an oxygen plasma treatment. The methods can then include contacting a silane with the activated surface to form a functionalized surface. A variety of suitable silanes may be used, but in some instances the silane is aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The method then includes contacting the functionalized surface with a liquid metal composite precursor and curing the liquid metal composite precursor while in contact with the functionalized surface to form the liquid metal composite adhered to the substrate. Articles made by the methods are also provided, including articles such as electronics having the liquid metal composite adhered to a substrate using the methods described herein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.