3D Shape-Morphing Display Enabled by Electrothermally Responsive, Stiffness-Tunable Liquid Metal Platform with Stretchable Electroluminescent Device

Abstract

3D displays are of great interest as next-generation displays by providing intensified realism of 3D visual information and haptic perception. However, challenges lie in implementing 3D displays due to the limitation of conventional display manufacturing technologies that restrict the dimensional scaling of their forms beyond the 2D layout. Furthermore, on account of the inherent static mechanical properties of constituent materials, the current display form factors can hardly achieve robust and complex 3D structures, thereby hindering their diversity in morphologies and applications. Herein, a versatile shape-morphing display is presented that can reconfigure its shape into various complex 3D structures through electrothermal operation and firmly maintain its morphed states without power consumption. To achieve this, a shape-morphing platform, which is composed of a low melting point alloy (LMPA)-graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)-elastomer composite, is integrated with a stretchable electroluminescent (EL) device. The LMPA in the composite, the key material for variable stiffness, imparts shape memory property and forms conductive pathways with GNPs enabling rapid electrothermal actuation. The stretchable EL device provides reliable illumination in 3D shape implementations. Experimental studies and proof-of-concept demonstrations show the potential of the shape-morphing display, opening new opportunities for 3D art displays, transformative wearable electronics, and visio-tactile automotive interfaces.