This paper describes the rheological behavior of the liquid metal eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) as it is injected into microfluidic channels to form stable microstructures of liquid metal. EGaIn is well-suited for this application because of its rheological properties at room temperature: it behaves like an elastic material until it experiences a critical surface stress, at which point it yields and flows readily. These properties allow EGaIn to fill microchannels rapidly when sufficient pressure is applied to the inlet of the channels, yet maintain structural stability within the channels once ambient pressure is restored. Experiments conducted in microfluidic channels, and in a parallel-plate rheometer, suggest that EGaIn’s behavior is dictated by the properties of its surface (predominantly gallium oxide, as determined by Auger measurements); these two experiments both yield approximately the same number for the critical surface stress required to induce EGaIn to flow (~0.5 N/m). This analysis–which shows that the pressure that must be exceeded for EGaIn to flow through a microchannel is inversely proportional to the critical (i.e., smallest) dimension of the channel–is useful to guide future fabrication of microfluidic channels to mold EGaIn into functional microstructures.

Eutectic Gallium-Indium (EGaIn) : A Liquid Metal Alloy for the Formation of Stable Structures in Microchannels at Room Temperature

This article summarizes theoretical work on sputtering during the past decade, with the emphasis on elemental sputtering in the linear cascade and spike regimes as well as alloy sputtering. The sputtering of molecules and clusters, and electronic sputtering of insulators and biomolecular materials are discussed more briefly, and topics like charge and excitation states of sputtered particles as well as surface topography are left out, in view of contemporary summary papers in this issue and elsewhere. The paper is nontutorial and assumes some general knowledge of the field on the part of the reader, based e.g. on ref. [1] or ref. [2]. The discussion emphasizes principles and methods as well as open problems rather than quantitative results. A few general recommendations for efficient utilization of computer simulation conclude the paper.

Mechanisms and theory of physical sputtering by particle impact

We have developed a facile method for the construction of liquid-phase eutectic gallium–indium (EGaIn) alloy nanoparticles. Particle formation is directed by molecular self-assembly and assisted by sonication. As the bulk liquid alloy is ultrasonically dispersed, fast thiolate self-assembly at the EGaIn interface protects the material against oxidation. The choice of self-assembled monolayer ligand directs the ultimate size reduction in the material; strongly interacting molecules induce surface strain and assist particle cleavage to the nanoscale. Transmission electron microscopy images and diffraction analyses reveal that the nanoscale particles are in an amorphous or liquid phase, with no observed faceting. The particles exhibit strong absorption in the ultraviolet (∼200 nm), consistent with the gallium surface plasmon resonance, but dependent on the nature of the particle ligand shell.

Directing substrate morphology via self-assembly: ligand-mediated scission of gallium-indium microspheres to the nanoscale

Energy and angular distributions of sputtered particles

Gallium-based liquid metals are of interest for a variety of applications including flexible electronics, soft robotics, and biomedical devices. Still, nano- to microscale device fabrication with these materials is challenging because, despite having surface tension 10 times higher than water, they strongly adhere to a majority of substrates. This unusually high adhesion is attributed to the formation of a thin oxide shell; however, its role in the adhesion process has not yet been established. In this work, we demonstrate that, dependent on dynamics of formation and resulting morphology of the liquid metal–substrate interface, GaInSn adhesion can occur in two modes. The first mode occurs when the oxide shell is not ruptured as it makes contact with the substrate. Because of the nanoscale topology of the oxide surface, this mode results in minimal adhesion between the liquid metal and most solids, regardless of substrate’s surface energy or texture. In the second mode, the formation of the GaInSn–substrat...

E. H. Cirlin

Papers

Sputtering of the gallium-indium eutectic alloy in the liquid phase