Recent Advances in Liquid Metal-Based Stretchable and Conductive Composites for Wearable Sensor Applications
Liquid metals (LMs), with their unique combination of high electrical conductivity and mechanical deformability, have emerged as promising materials for stretchable electronics and biointerfaces. However, the practical application of bulk LMs in wearable sensors has been hindered by processing chall...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Biosensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/466 |
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| author | Boo Young Kim Wan Yusmawati Wan Yusoff Paolo Matteini Peter Baumli Byungil Hwang |
| author_facet | Boo Young Kim Wan Yusmawati Wan Yusoff Paolo Matteini Peter Baumli Byungil Hwang |
| author_sort | Boo Young Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Liquid metals (LMs), with their unique combination of high electrical conductivity and mechanical deformability, have emerged as promising materials for stretchable electronics and biointerfaces. However, the practical application of bulk LMs in wearable sensors has been hindered by processing challenges and low stability. To overcome these limitations, liquid metal particles (LMPs) encapsulated by native oxide shells have gained attention as versatile and stable fillers for stretchable and conductive composites. Recent advances have focused on the development of LM-based hybrid composites that combine LMPs with metal, carbon, or polymeric fillers. These systems offer enhanced electrical and mechanical properties and can form conductive networks without the need for additional sintering processes. They also impart composites with multiple functions such as self-healing, electromagnetic interference shielding, and recyclability. Hence, the present review summarizes the fabrication methods and functional properties of LM-based composites, with a particular focus on their applications in wearable sensing. In addition, recent developments in the use of LM composites for physical motion monitoring (e.g., strain and pressure sensing) and electrophysiological signal recording (e.g., EMG and ECG) are presented, and the key challenges and opportunities for next-generation wearable platforms are discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-15ff84f051fc49f1a75d7c3cf5d5fb7b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2079-6374 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biosensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-15ff84f051fc49f1a75d7c3cf5d5fb7b2025-08-20T02:45:33ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-07-0115746610.3390/bios15070466Recent Advances in Liquid Metal-Based Stretchable and Conductive Composites for Wearable Sensor ApplicationsBoo Young Kim0Wan Yusmawati Wan Yusoff1Paolo Matteini2Peter Baumli3Byungil Hwang4School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physics, Centre for Defence Foundation Studies, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur 57000, MalaysiaIstituto di Fisica Applicata “N. Carrara”, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR-IFAC, Via Madonna del Piano 10C, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyInstitute of Metallurgy, Metal Forming and Nanotechnology, University of Miskolc, 3515 Miskolc, HungarySchool of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaLiquid metals (LMs), with their unique combination of high electrical conductivity and mechanical deformability, have emerged as promising materials for stretchable electronics and biointerfaces. However, the practical application of bulk LMs in wearable sensors has been hindered by processing challenges and low stability. To overcome these limitations, liquid metal particles (LMPs) encapsulated by native oxide shells have gained attention as versatile and stable fillers for stretchable and conductive composites. Recent advances have focused on the development of LM-based hybrid composites that combine LMPs with metal, carbon, or polymeric fillers. These systems offer enhanced electrical and mechanical properties and can form conductive networks without the need for additional sintering processes. They also impart composites with multiple functions such as self-healing, electromagnetic interference shielding, and recyclability. Hence, the present review summarizes the fabrication methods and functional properties of LM-based composites, with a particular focus on their applications in wearable sensing. In addition, recent developments in the use of LM composites for physical motion monitoring (e.g., strain and pressure sensing) and electrophysiological signal recording (e.g., EMG and ECG) are presented, and the key challenges and opportunities for next-generation wearable platforms are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/466liquid metalwearablecompositessensorsfabrication |
| spellingShingle | Boo Young Kim Wan Yusmawati Wan Yusoff Paolo Matteini Peter Baumli Byungil Hwang Recent Advances in Liquid Metal-Based Stretchable and Conductive Composites for Wearable Sensor Applications Biosensors liquid metal wearable composites sensors fabrication |
| title | Recent Advances in Liquid Metal-Based Stretchable and Conductive Composites for Wearable Sensor Applications |
| title_full | Recent Advances in Liquid Metal-Based Stretchable and Conductive Composites for Wearable Sensor Applications |
| title_fullStr | Recent Advances in Liquid Metal-Based Stretchable and Conductive Composites for Wearable Sensor Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Advances in Liquid Metal-Based Stretchable and Conductive Composites for Wearable Sensor Applications |
| title_short | Recent Advances in Liquid Metal-Based Stretchable and Conductive Composites for Wearable Sensor Applications |
| title_sort | recent advances in liquid metal based stretchable and conductive composites for wearable sensor applications |
| topic | liquid metal wearable composites sensors fabrication |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/466 |
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