Liquid Metals & Low-Melting Alloys

Metals that flow. Systems that endure.

EMDP Lab primarily studies liquid metals and low-melting-point alloys as adaptable platforms for energy transport, soft electronics, and advanced materials processing.

We engineer alloy composition, interfaces, and phase transitions to turn fluid or easily processed metals into reliable device functions.

Reflective liquid metal flowing around a crystalline low-melting alloy specimen — Phase behavior, interface control, and processing come together in one materials platform.

Materials & Process

Build the material system

Students work on synthesis, formulation, interfacial control, and process tuning rather than only running downstream tests.

Characterization

Prove what changed

Electrical, thermal, and reliability measurements are treated as evidence for mechanism and process quality, not just a checklist.

Translation

Connect to devices and output

The research is framed so material advances can support functioning devices, credible claims, and eventually strong publications.

Stretchable liquid-metal interconnect running through a transparent soft channel — Liquid-metal channels can carry signals through soft structures that bend and stretch.

Liquid-metal via formed from connected microdroplets in a soft composite — Liquid-metal microdroplets form a soft via for polymer-compatible routing.

Liquid-metal composite structure with a selectively activated conductive region — Composite processing creates localized conductive paths without losing compliance.

Theme 01

Liquid-Metal Vias for Soft Interconnects

Problem. Conventional through-connections and rigid conductors can fracture when soft substrates bend, stretch, or change shape. Liquid-metal vias offer a route to carry signals through compliant polymer structures while preserving electrical continuity.

Approach. The lab designs liquid-metal microdroplet networks, via formation, interface adhesion, and activation processes so conductive paths can be placed where flexible devices need them.

Form vertical and lateral liquid-metal vias inside polymer-compatible structures.
Keep conductors continuous through bending, stretching, and repeated deformation.
Link materials formulation and processing to reliable soft interconnects.

Liquid-Metal Vias Soft Interconnects Stretchable Electronics Interface Engineering

Figure 1 from a paper showing a fully self-healable ionic thermoelectric generator and selective ion transport — Figure 1. Zwitterionic copolymer design selectively boosts ionic transport in a self-healable thermoelectric generator. Open full-resolution figure.

Figure 2 from a paper showing characterization of a liquid-metal-based pressure-activated self-healing electrode — Figure 2. Characterization of the LM-based pressure-activated self-healing electrode, including stretchability, resistance, healing, and cyclic loading. Open full-resolution figure.

Figure 5 from a paper showing fabrication and reconfiguration of modular ionic thermoelectric generators — Figure 5. Demonstration of reconfigurable ionic TEG systems fabricated in series and modified through cutting and self-healing. Open full-resolution figure.

Theme 02

Self-Healable Ionic Thermoelectric Generators

Problem. High-output ionic thermoelectric systems need controlled ion motion, while wearable devices must also survive damage, stretch, and repeated thermal cycling.

Approach. Zwitterionic copolymer ionogels selectively promote cation or anion transport, while a liquid-metal-based self-healing electrode connects p/n legs in series to create a reconfigurable output. Here, liquid metal functions as the deformable electrode; Theme 03 focuses separately on thermal-interface heat transfer.

Tune cation and anion diffusion through polymer-side-chain interactions.
Pair self-healing ionogels with liquid-metal electrode pathways.
Validate output, energy density, and modular reconfiguration at device level.

Zwitterionic Gels Ionic TEGs Self-Healing Energy Conversion

Source paper. Ho et al., Zwitterionic Polymer Gel-Based Fully Self-Healable Ionic Thermoelectric Generators with Pressure-Activated Electrodes, Advanced Energy Materials 13, 2301133 (2023). DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202301133

Concept illustration of a liquid-metal and polymer thermal interface between a heat source and a compliant heat spreader — Concept illustration of a liquid-metal/polymer thermal interface bridging a heat source and a compliant heat spreader; not experimental data.

Theme 03

Stretchable Liquid-Metal Thermal Interfaces

Problem. Thermal interfaces must keep contact with hot and cold surfaces while assemblies bend, stretch, or move. Rigid pads and brittle interlayers can lose conformity as the geometry changes.

Approach. The lab studies liquid-metal/polymer composite TIMs that combine liquid thermal pathways with a compliant matrix, allowing the interface to deform, conform, and adapt to wearable and mechanically dynamic systems. The design questions span formulation, wetting and adhesion, interfacial resistance, and cycling reliability.

Keep thermal contact as substrates bend, stretch, and change shape.
Engineer composite compliance, adhesion, and interface stability.
Measure heat transfer and reliability under realistic mechanical deformation.

Thermal Interface Materials Stretchable Composites Liquid Metal Wearable Devices

Student fit

Find a research direction you can own

If one of these themes is a match, the application process can focus quickly on defining a realistic first project and milestone.

Discuss a Project Meet the Team

Contact

Talk through a potential project

333, Techno jungang-daero, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, Republic of Korea, 42988

hodh123@dgist.ac.kr

If you are interested in one of these themes, leave your email and the lab can follow up.