A frequency-tunable half-wavelength dipole antenna is realized using an array of electrically actuated liquid-metal pixels. The liquid-metal pixelated dipole antenna demonstrates frequency reconfigurability by switching between resonances at 2.51 GHz, 2.12 GHz, 1.85 GHz, and 1.68 GHz.

Liquid metal is actuated against the force of gravity using low-voltage, low-power continuous electrowetting. The liquid metal moves from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir, a distance of 12 mm, in 1.66 s. This demonstrates that the electrokinetic actuation of liquid metal is not limited to two-dimensional movement.

Liquid-metal pixels are used to demonstrate a frequency-tunable dipole antenna that can be reconfigured for horizontal or vertical polarisation. Each dipole consists of 14 pixels, each of which can be electrically actuated with the liquid metal Galinstan to achieve different antenna states.

Discretised liquid metal is actuated in a 2 × 2 pixel grid to demonstrate pixelated reconfiguration. Within each pixel, continuous electrowetting actuates liquid metal from a lower to an upper reservoir, allowing that pixel to either appear or disappear without employing switches between adjacent pixels. Liquid metal is actuated within 0.3 s and is reversible.

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