Electric current-assisted manipulation of liquid metals using a stylus at micro-and nano-scales

Shastri, V and Majumder, S and Ashok, A and Roy, K and Pratap, R and Kumar, P (2023) Electric current-assisted manipulation of liquid metals using a stylus at micro-and nano-scales. In: Nanotechnology, 34 (10).

PDF nan_34-10_2023.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

A novel methodology, based on wetting and electromigration, for transporting liquid metal, over long distances, at micro-and nano-scale using a stylus is reported. The mechanism is analogous to a dropper that uses ‘suction and release’ actions to ‘collect and dispense’ liquid. In our methodology, a stylus coated with a thin metal film acts like the dropper that collects liquid metal from a reservoir upon application of an electric current, holds the liquid metal via wetting while carrying the liquid metal over large distances away from the reservoir and drops it on the target location by reversing the direction of electric current. Essentially, the working principle of the technique relies on the directionality of electromigration force and adhesive force due to wetting. The working of the technique is demonstrated by using an Au-coated Si micropillar as the stylus, liquid Ga as the liquid metal to be transported, and a Kleindiek-based position micro-manipulator to traverse the stylus from the liquid reservoir to the target location. For demonstrating the potential applications, the technique is utilized for closing a micro-gap by dispensing a minuscule amount of liquid Ga and conformally coating the desired segment of the patterned thin films with liquid Ga. This study confirms the promising potential of the developed technique for reversible, controlled manipulation of liquid metal at small length scales.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Nanotechnology
Publisher:	Institute of Physics
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to Institute of Physics.
Keywords:	Coatings; Electromigration; Metal working; Nanotechnology; Soldering; Wetting, Conformal coatings; Electro-dropper; Electro-soldering; Electromigration forces; Liquid electromigration; Liquid ga; Nano scale; Novel methodology; Target location; Thin metal films, Liquid metals
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Materials Engineering (formerly Metallurgy) Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences > Centre for Nano Science and Engineering
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2023 07:08
Last Modified:	27 Jan 2023 07:08
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/79526

Actions (login required)

View Item