Research Projects

Metallic elastomers - materials that exhibit metal-like conductivity combined with rubber-like elasticity, represent a transformative innovation in the field of soft matter engineering. These materials hold immense promise for remarkable multifunctional performance, potentially mimicking biological systems. For instances, the soft-yet-tough nature of an elephant’s trunk and incredible manoeuvrability of cephalopods are some examples of biological structures requiring both flexibility and responsiveness, attributes that smart elastomer system could aspire to replicate. In this regard, elastomers are probably the only viable material for fulfilling such purpose in terms of their compliance, however, the challenge remains in inducing functional response. In this context, the development of tunable, new-generation metallic elastomers by integrating liquid metals (LMs) and its alloys within elastomer matrix presents a novel and a largely unexplored direction in the domain of soft material research. The proposed work aims to design and fabricate of metallic elastomeric materials via strategic structural and interfacial modification of both the LM and the elastomer. The key fundamental problems that will be addressed in this project include: effective compatibilization through creation of interfacial bonding between the rubber matrix and the LM filler, understanding of the transient evolution of the percolation network and its stability critical for conductivity, sustainable and scalable method of device fabrication, and the implementation of a device in various soft technological applications. The PI of this project has prior experience in designing LM-based soft multifunctional materials, particularly in overcoming interfacial incompatibility between LMs and elastomers. Building on this foundation, the current project aims to pioneer the concept of metallic elastomer, a frontier yet to be substantially explored globally. Ultimately, this research seeks to transition the innovation towards industrial implementation and commercial production under the ‘Make In India’ initiative as a part of the Viksit Bharat mission. The anticipated outcomes are expected to contribute significantly to India’s soft matter research ecosystem and reinforce the national self-reliance in cutting-edge materials technologies.