Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have created a unique new material that is ideal for soft electronic circuits. The breakthrough could significantly improve the performance of wearable technology, flexible robots and other smart devices.

The newly created material, called Bilaminar liquid-solid conductor (BiLiSC), can be stretched 22 times its original length without losing its electrical conductivity.

This is an unprecedented achievement that improves human interaction with electronic devices, as well as expanding applications to medical wearables.

“We developed this technology to address the need for high-performance electronic circuits for the next generation of wearables, robots and smart devices,” said Professor Lim Chwee Teck, who led the research team.

BiLiSC is a two-layer technology material. The first layer is made of homogeneous liquid metal, which ensures conductivity even under high deformation. The second layer consists of a composite material, with liquid metal microparticles, which can be repaired after damage. When cracks or breaks appear, the liquid metal flowing from the microparticles fills the void, allowing the material to restore conductivity almost immediately.

To enable commercial applications, the NUS research team has developed a rapid and cost-effective method for producing BiLiSC. The research results will be published in the journal Advanced Materials from November 2022.

The researchers also demonstrated the feasibility of using BiLiSC in various wearable electronics. They are now working on creating an improved version of BiLiSC that can be 3D printed without the need for a template, which would reduce costs and improve precision during manufacturing.

(according to Securitylab)