Liquid metal synthesis solvents for metallic crystals

Abstract

In nature, snowflake ice crystals arrange themselves into diverse symmetrical six-sided structures. We show an analogy of this when zinc (Zn) dissolves and crystallizes in liquid gallium (Ga). The low-melting-temperature Ga is used as a “metallic solvent” to synthesize a range of flake-like Zn crystals. We extract these metallic crystals from the liquid metal solvent by reducing its surface tension using a combination of electrocapillary modulation and vacuum filtration. The liquid metal–grown crystals feature high morphological diversity and persistent symmetry. The concept is expanded to other single and binary metal solutes and Ga-based solvents, with the growth mechanisms elucidated through ab initio simulation of interfacial stability. This strategy offers general routes for creating highly crystalline, shape-controlled metallic or multimetallic fine structures from liquid metal solvents.

Surface Oxidation and Wetting Synergistic Effect of Liquid Metals

“…Because the generated copper particles stop growing after their internalization, it is possible to regulate their size by varying the growth rate and growth time, both of which may be controlled by the concentrations of hydrogen ions and copper ions in the liquid system. It is expected to generate the size-controlled copper particles from the liquid metal solvent by applying a positive potential or a polarizing voltage due to the reduction of surface tension. , While the oxidation process plays a leading role in the synergistic effect under the high concentration of Cu 2+ , the copper particles can remain stably on the surface of the liquid metal in mode 2 (Figure b). Therefore, the formation and dissolution of the oxide layer are critical for the surface states of the liquid metal.…”

“…It is expected to generate the size-controlled copper particles from the liquid metal solvent by applying a positive potential or a polarizing voltage due to the reduction of surface tension. 47,48 While the oxidation process plays a leading role in the synergistic effect under the high concentration of Cu 2+ , the copper particles can remain stably on the surface of the liquid metal in mode 2 (Figure 3b). Therefore, the formation and dissolution of the oxide layer are critical for the surface states of the liquid metal.…”

Temperature-Dependent Morphological Evolution during Corrosion of the Ni-20Cr Alloy in Molten Salt Revealed by Multiscale Imaging

“…In this work, the morphological and chemical changes of Ni–20Cr in molten KCl–MgCl 2 (50–50 mol %) at 600 °C were studied by combining multimodal in situ synchrotron transmission X-ray and electron microscopy. The development of the combined multiscale techniques can be applied to study a broader range of functional materials, while their morphological evolution occurs in a liquid medium including chemical reactions in various liquid media and material processing such as crystal growth with fine features in liquid metals . The in situ heating, fast scan acquisition, and nondestructive advantages of synchrotron X-ray nanotomography will be invaluable for time-resolved studies on dynamical and kinetic studies for the synthesis or performance of material applications.…”

Nanoarchitectonics and Applications of Gallium‐Based Liquid Metal Micro‐ and Nanoparticles

“…For example, Kourosh et al. adopted an innovative method combining electrocapillary modulation and vacuum filtration to prepare different forms and various types of micro and nano crystals of zinc, and can control their crystallinity and shape by using low melting point gallium indium alloys as “metal solvents” (Figure 8a–b), This method solves the problem that it is very difficult to extract crystals due to the high surface tension of LMs in the past [104] . This research has important significance for promoting the development of material science and engineering fields.…”