Gallium Liquid Metal: The Devil's Elixir

Tang, Shi‐Yang; Tabor, Christopher E.; Kalantar‐zadeh, Kourosh; Dickey, Michael D.

doi:10.1146/annurev-matsci-080819-125403

Cited by 180 publications

(151 citation statements)

References 149 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

151

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…From the positive point of view, it can help Ga control its shape and size and form a core-shell structure for further functionalization. Tang et al considered the Ga native oxide layer as a platform for enhanced reactivity and systematically demonstrated the function of electrochemically driven reversible transition between Ga and Ga oxide layer on a wide range of reactions such as energy harvesting, soft robotics, field-effect transitors, soft diodes and memristors [157]. Liu et al also demonstrated in detail the surface engineering strategy by synthesizing core-shell LM materials for improved performance in several attractive scenarios including but not limited to soft electronics, nano/biomedicine, catalysis and energy storage/conversion [158].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ga Based Particles, Alloys and Composites: Fabrication and Applications

Guo

Zong

et al. 2021

Nanomaterials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Liquid metal (LM) materials, including pure gallium (Ga) LM, eutectic alloys and their composites with organic polymers and inorganic nanoparticles, are cutting-edge functional materials owing to their outstanding electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, extraordinary mechanical compliance, deformability and excellent biocompatibility. The unique properties of LM-based materials at room temperatures can overcome the drawbacks of the conventional electronic devices, particularly high thermal, electrical conductivities and their fluidic property, which would open tremendous opportunities for the fundamental research and practical applications of stretchable and wearable electronic devices. Therefore, research interest has been increasingly devoted to the fabrication methodologies of LM nanoparticles and their functional composites. In this review, we intend to present an overview of the state-of-art protocols for the synthesis of Ga-based materials, to introduce their potential applications in the fields ranging from wearable electronics, energy storage batteries and energy harvesting devices to bio-applications, and to discuss challenges and opportunities in future studies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ga Based Particles, Alloys and Composites: Fabrication and Applications

Guo

Zong

et al. 2021

Nanomaterials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In recent years, with the development of materials science, various unique effects of soft matter have been gradually discovered and utilized. In particular, room-temperature liquid metals possess many favorable properties [20][21][22][23][24][25][26] , including large surface tension, ideal flexibility, high conductivity, low toxicity and so on. Furthermore, their excellent electric conductivity molds them into intrinsically conductive fluids.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 1 [27] lists some of the typical properties of gallium-based liquid metal and comparative liquids. Due to the different component ratios, the physical properties of such liquid metals appear somewhat different [22,23,25,26] . It should be noted that systematic measurements and currently available data for these materials remain rather limited.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into fluidic endogenous magnetism and magnetic monopoles from a liquid metal droplet machine

Zhou¹,

Zu²,

Liu³

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Magnetism and magnetic monopoles are among the most classical issues in physics. Conventional magnets are generally composed of rigid materials and may face challenges in extreme situations. Here, as an alternative to rigid magnets, we propose, for the first time, the generation of fluidic endogenous magnetism and construct a magnetic monopole through tuning with a liquid metal machine. Based on theoretical interpretation and conceptual experimental observations, we illustrate that when liquid metals, such as gallium alloy, in a solution rotate under electrical actuation, they form an endogenous magnetic field inside. This explains the phenomenon where two such discrete metal droplets can easily fuse together, indicating their reciprocal attraction via the N and S poles. Furthermore, we reveal that a self-fueled liquid metal motor also runs as an endogenous fluidic magnet owing to the electromagnetic homology. When aluminum is added to liquid gallium in solution, it forms a spin motor and dynamically variable charge distribution that produces endogenous magnetism inside. This explains the common phenomena where reflective collision and attractive fusion between running liquid metal motors occur, which are partially caused by the dynamic adjustment of their N and S polarities, respectively. On this basis, more experimental approaches capable of generating dynamic electrical fields also work for the same target. Finally, we propose that such a fluidic endogenous magnet could lead to a magnetic monopole and four technical routes to realize this are suggested. The first involves matching the interior flow of liquid metal machines. The second is the superposition between an external electric effect and the magnetic field. The third route involves composite construction between magnetic particles and a liquid metal spin motor. Finally, chemical methods, such as via galvanic cell reactions, are proposed. Overall, the present theory and identified experimental evidence illustrate the role of a liquid metal machine as a fluidic endogenous magnet and highlight promising methods for the realization of magnetic monopoles. A group of unconventional magnetoelectric devices and applications could therefore be possible in the near future.

show abstract

“…Hence, RTLM rechargeable batteries have become straightforward alternative energy storage devices. Gallium (Ga), a post-transition metal with a melting point of 29.8 °C, is one of the most interesting elements in the periodic table [ 15 ]. Ga has a water-like bulk viscosity of 1.99 mPa·s (vs. 1 mPa·s for water) [ 1 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gallium (Ga), a post-transition metal with a melting point of 29.8 °C, is one of the most interesting elements in the periodic table [ 15 ]. Ga has a water-like bulk viscosity of 1.99 mPa·s (vs. 1 mPa·s for water) [ 1 , 15 ]. Yamaguchi et al reported the reversible size control of gallium liquid metal nanoparticles (LMNPs) through ultrasonication [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gallium-Indium-Tin Eutectic as a Self-Healing Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Anode for High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Owing to their intrinsic properties, such as deformability, high electrical conductivity, and superior electrochemical performance, room-temperature liquid metals and liquid metal alloys have attracted the attention of researchers for a wide variety of applications, including portable and large-scale energy storage applications. In this study, novel gallium-indium-tin eutectic (EGaInSn) room-temperature liquid metal nanoparticles synthesized using a facile and scalable probe-ultrasonication method were used as anode material in lithium-ion batteries. The morphology, geometry, and self-healing properties of the synthesized room-temperature liquid metal nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS and TEM/EDS). The synthesized room-temperature liquid metal nanoparticles delivered a specific capacity of 474 mAh g–1 and retained 77% of the stable reversible capacity after 500 galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles at a constant current density of 0.1 A g–1. The high theoretical specific capacity, combined with its self-healing and fluidic features, make EGaInSn room-temperature liquid metal nanoparticles a potential anode material for large-scale energy storage applications.

show abstract

Gallium Liquid Metal: The Devil's Elixir

Cited by 180 publications

References 149 publications

Ga Based Particles, Alloys and Composites: Fabrication and Applications

Ga Based Particles, Alloys and Composites: Fabrication and Applications

Insights into fluidic endogenous magnetism and magnetic monopoles from a liquid metal droplet machine

Gallium-Indium-Tin Eutectic as a Self-Healing Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Anode for High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About