Programmable liquid metal

Programmable materials represent a novel category of materials capable of sensing external stimuli, discerning, evaluating, and responding to characteristic stimuli based on the input received. These materials possess the capacity to amalgamate the autonomous functionalities of sensing, control, and feedback found in traditional systems within a singular material. Consequently, they hold substantial research value and offer extensive prospects for application. Room-temperature liquid metal materials are a specific type of low melting point alloy distinguished by their melting point proximate to room temperature. These materials not only exhibit favorable electrical and thermal conductivity akin to metals but also possess the fluidic attributes of liquids. This distinctive combination endows room-temperature liquid metals with greater potential for application scenarios compared to conventional metals, consequently enabling their utilization as programmable smart materials. Moreover, the fluid nature of liquid metals facilitates their incorporation with other functional materials, presenting considerable potential for performance enhancement. This chapter encompasses a comprehensive depiction of liquid metal programmable materials featuring diverse response characteristics. It encompasses a summary of existing liquid metal programmable materials categorized by their electrical response, magnetic response, thermal response, chemical response, and multi-field response. Additionally, it provides a prognostication of future developmental trends. These materials harbor significant research implications and possess considerable value in applications within emerging domains such as soft robotics, additive manufacturing, and wearable physiological monitoring equipment.