MXene-Assembled Liquid Metal Hybrid Microparticles for Multifunctional and Stretchable Printed Electronics

Stretchable printed electronic devices are essential for the advancement of soft robotics, bioelectronics, and wearable systems. Liquid metals, owing to their high electrical conductivity and intrinsic deformability, have emerged as promising candidates for these applications. However, their limited functionality hinders their integration into multifunctional electronic devices. Here, we present versatile MXene-assembled liquid metal hybrid microparticles (MLHMs), which serve not only as conductive platforms for diverse electronic devices but also as electrochemical electrodes for stretchable energy storage devices. This multifunctionality stems from their unique structure, in which MXene nanosheets self-assemble around liquid metal microparticles via coordination interactions, forming an interconnected hybrid network within the printed pattern. This architecture enables the activation of electrical conductivity in hybrid microparticles at a minimal strain of 2.5%, achieving a high electrical conductivity of 3.7 × 10⁵ S m^-1 and excellent stretchability of ~ 700%. The MLHMs demonstrate multifunctionality in stretchable antennas, micro-supercapacitors, electroluminescent devices, and flexible printed circuit boards, enabling wireless power transmission, energy storage, and stretchable and interactive display. These hybrids represent versatile material units for advancing stretchable and integrated electronic systems.