Experimental analysis of liquid metal galinstan for electronics actuation

Abstract

The experimental interfacial tension measurements of galinstan as a function of applied DC voltages are presented. The measurements are based on a tailored, modified pendent drop setup to make it suitable for this experiment. The findings rationalise Galinstan corresponding to Marangoni flow that actuates under the influence of a change in interfacial tension, resulting from applied voltages. Galinstan is substantiated as an actuation medium to enable ON or OFF states by using a very low applied voltage (∼ 0.8V). The illustrated nature of measurements performed in this work has significance for a variety of reconfigurable RF applications, by enabling well-controlled actuations.