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Rapid 3D Assembly of Liquid Metal Electronics
THE CHALLENGE
A major challenge in advancing flexible and stretchable electronics is the lack of a fast, reliable, and scalable way to create electrical interconnections (vias) between circuit layers. Current methods rely on slow multi-step techniques that drill physical openings and fill them with conductive materials. These processes are difficult...
Published: 3/26/2026
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Updated: 3/26/2026
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Dong Hae Ho
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Electronics
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Metamaterial Adhesives for Packaging, Hanging, and Handling
THE CHALLENGE
A major challenge in adhesive technology is developing products that offer strong, reliable bonding while also allowing easy and repeatable removal—without damaging surfaces or requiring costly manufacturing. Most commercial adhesives force a trade-off: permanent glues offer strength but ruin surfaces or require harsh solvents...
Published: 1/15/2026
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Updated: 1/15/2026
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Chanhong Lee
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Chemicals/Materials
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Liquid metal-vitrimer composites
THE CHALLENGE
The electronics industry faces a significant challenge in developing materials that balance high electrical performance, mechanical durability, and environmental sustainability. Most current solutions rely on thermosetting plastics that are extremely difficult to recycle, contributing to a growing e-waste problem. Efforts to enhance...
Published: 2/12/2026
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Updated: 7/21/2025
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Josh Worch, Dong Hae Ho, Meng Jiang
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Electronics
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High Viscosity Liquid Processing for Tunable Graded Foams
THE CHALLENGE
The key challenge in developing liquid metal–elastomer composites for soft robotics and wearable electronics lies in achieving consistent, scalable manufacturing of these promising but technically complex materials. While direct ink writing offers a path to produce flexible, conductive structures, current methods struggle with...
Published: 10/27/2025
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Updated: 7/21/2025
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Eric Markvicka, Spencer Pak
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Electronics
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Octopus-Mimetic Adhesives for Wet Surface Attachment
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge in creating effective underwater adhesion systems lies in bridging a critical gap between advanced materials science and real-world usability, especially for industries like marine robotics, offshore maintenance, and biomedical handling. Traditional solutions either bond too permanently, require ideal flat surfaces, consume...
Published: 3/2/2026
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Updated: 7/3/2025
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Chanhong Lee
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Biomedical, Technology Classifications > Biotechnology, Technology Classifications > Robotics
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Sensorized Adhesive Skins for Underwater Grasping of Objects
THE CHALLENGE
Underwater manipulation is essential for tasks like marine research, infrastructure repair, environmental monitoring, and resource extraction—where precise, reliable interaction with submerged objects is critical yet technically challenging. Currently, there is a lack of reliable, efficient, and adaptable gripping technologies...
Published: 10/20/2025
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Updated: 7/3/2025
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Ravi Tej Anand Tutika, Eric Markvicka
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Chemicals/Materials
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Conductive and Adhesive Liquid Metal Copper Paste
THE CHALLENGE
The growing market for wearable tech, soft robotics, and flexible displays is driving urgent demand for printable conductive materials that work reliably on bendable or stretchable surfaces—without the need for high heat or complex processing. However, current solutions force businesses into tough trade-offs: silver and copper...
Published: 10/20/2025
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Updated: 7/3/2025
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Ravi Tej Anand Tutika
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Electronics, Technology Classifications > Chemicals/Materials
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Additive Manufacturing of Functional Emulsions
THE CHALLENGE
The core challenge in advancing additive manufacturing for soft composite materials lies in the inability to precisely control the internal microstructure during production—a critical factor that directly impacts a material’s thermal, electrical, and mechanical performance. This limits the scalability and reliability of manufacturing...
Published: 6/25/2025
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Updated: 4/16/2025
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Ravi Tej Anand Tutika, Eric Markvicka, Aaron Haake
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Engineering
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Tough Bonding of Liquid Metal-Elastomer Composites for Multifunctional Adhesives
Challenges:
The rapid advancement of electronics, thermal management systems, and flexible devices has heightened the demand for innovative materials that combine mechanical flexibility with efficient thermal conductivity. Liquid metal-elastomer composites have emerged as promising candidates in this field due to their unique ability to provide both...
Published: 10/20/2025
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Updated: 12/17/2024
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Dohgyu Hwang, Edward Barron III, Tyler Pozarycki
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Chemicals/Materials
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Morphing Drone Through Shape Change for Multimodal Vehicles
THE CHALLENGE:
The field of robotics has seen significant advancements in unmanned vehicles for various applications, including search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and transportation. These diverse applications often require vehicles to operate in complex environments with varying terrains, necessitating adaptable locomotion capabilities....
Published: 10/20/2025
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Updated: 11/12/2024
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Inventor(s): Michael Bartlett, Brittan Wilcox
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Robotics
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