Mechanically tolerant fluidic split ring resonators

Flexible resonators are crucial elements for non-planar, conformal and curved or movable surfaces in flexible high frequency electronic environments. Here, we demonstrate a stretchable, bendable, twistable and reversibly deformable split ring resonator (SRR) operating at ∼3 GHz. The mechanical and electrical performance of the SRR was achieved by encapsulating liquid metal (galinstan) in a microfluidic channel of highly elastic polydimethylsiloxane. Applying mechanical deformation (bending, stretching and twisting) to the SRR results in minimal deviation of the transmission response. This offers a stable and predictable response for flexible electronic applications where mechanical deformation or conformity is inherent.