Cu-EGaIn Enabled Stretchable E-skin for Interactive Electronics and CT Assistant Localization

Electronic skin (e-skin) is attracting huge attention due to its promising applications in diverse fields, including biomimetic machines, artificial intelligence and smart robotics. However, most of the e-skin circuits require complicated fabrication processe and high cost. Here, a simple, fast fabrication method of highly conductive (6 × 106 S m−1) and stretchable (above 100%) e-skin based on the adhesion selectivity of semi-liquid metal (Cu-EGaIn) on laser printed toner and polymethacrylate (PMA) coating is developed. The stretchable e-skin circuits are shown to transfer to human skin and 3D substrates as wearable electronics for a variety of applications, such as temperature monitoring, interactive device, and flexible display. Different from other liquid metal patterning techniques requiring expensive equipment or rigid metal traces like silver nanoparticle, the approach can directly print Cu-EGaIn on stretchable substrate with a commercial laser printer in seconds. Further, by virtue of the advantage of high radiological imaging capability of Cu-EGaIn, the e-skin is patterned as CT assistant localization marker, which is demonstrated to be very helpful for doctors and surgical robots to efficiently localize biopsy which is a core issue in clinics. The present study hold promise for future health care, surgical guidance and personalized entertainment.