Injecting liquid metal into polymer molds produces efficient
antennas that can twist and stretch Source: “Reversibly
Deformable and Mechanically Tunable Fluidic Antennas” Michael D.
Dickey et al. Advanced Functional Materials 19: 3632-3637
Results: Engineers at North Carolina State University created a
flexible yet efficient antenna using a liquid metal, a gallium-
indium alloy. The antenna is as efficient as a standard copper
antenna, transmitting over a broad frequency range at about 90
percent efficiency. It remains functional even when it is
twisted, folded, or stretched to 40 percent beyond its normal
length. Why it matters: The antenna could make it easier to send
and receive data from flexible electronics, such as sensors
incorporated into clothing, electronic paper, or implantable
biomedical devices. The radio frequencies it responds to change
as it stretches, which means that it could be embedded in
machinery or in a concrete structure such as a bridge to monitor
it for strain over time. Methods: The