Gallium-based transformative electronic systems for the electronics form factor innovation

Abstract

Most contemporary electronics, including both conventional rigid electronics and emerging soft electronics, are designed for specific functions based on their mechanical properties. However, the invariant mechanical properties fix form factors of current electronics, limiting their potential applications. Therefore, there is a growing demand to create electronic systems that can adapt and change their mechanical properties to leverage key features of both rigid and soft electronics. This study introduces gallium-based transformative electronic systems as a solution for form factor innovation in electronics. The design concepts, material characteristics, and manufacturing techniques are presented, along with application demonstrations in personal electronics, sensors, and biomedical engineering. Then, the design strategies utilizing graphene, flexible thermoelectric devices, and radiative coolers are applied to address the challenges in rapid, bi-directional stiffness tuning and reliable operation.