Protocol for 3D and 4D printing of highly conductive metallic composite using liquid metal gels

3D or 4D printing of metal structures requires extreme conditions or a multistage process. Here, we present a protocol for the preparation of highly conductive metallic composites using liquid metal gels at ambient conditions. We describe the steps to prepare ternary gels composed of copper particles, liquid metal, and water. We then detail procedures for 3D or 4D printing gels into highly conductive structures after adding a small amount of rheological modifier (methyl cellulose) using direct ink writing techniques. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Xing et al. (2023).¹