Researchers at Purdue University have proposed a way of printing liquid metal alloys. Their method involves dispersing gallium-indium in ethanol via ultrasound. The created nanoparticle solution is suitable for inkjet printing and can be printed onto any surface. Once printed the ethanol evaporates and after light pressure the particles fuse together creating a conductive material.
"We want to create stretchable electronics that might be compatible with soft machines, such as robots that need to squeeze through small spaces, or wearable technologies that aren't restrictive of motion," said Rebecca Kramer, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University. "Conductors made from liquid metal can stretch and deform without breaking."