Here is a bit more info on the properties that give it maze solving capabilities:
Like a water bed, this skin surrounds and supports the shape of the liquid metal. Removing the skin causes it to flow and bead up to minimize its surface energy. In this video, a small voltage applied to the metal (relative to a counter electrode) removes the oxide by electrochemical reactions. Removal of the oxide causes the metal to withdraw from microchannels (small tubes) and can even allow it to solve a maze because it withdraws along the electrical path. The term “recapillarity” refers to the use of electrochemical “reduction” to cause “capillary” action. It also refers to the ability to turn on and off capillary flow multiple times by turning on and off the voltage. This simple approach allows control over the flow and shape of liquid metals within microchannels.
We hope you enjoy this video! And think of the applications in fuel cells or other inventions that could benefit from the harnessing of this “smart metal”. What types of OTHER inventions could this be used for?
thank you to Mohammad R. Khan, Chris Trlica andMichael D. Dickey
I don’t know the properties of liquid metal but water could by eventually filling up the whole thing and flowing through. What’s liquid metal?
Liquid tends to flow, and fill spaces. By tilting the board the liquid would seek to go downward, until it reaches level. In a full sized maze of caves, people follow water, when lost.