Liquid Metal Particles and Polymers: A Soft−Soft System with Exciting Properties

CONSPECTUS:Gallium-based liquid metal alloys are a special type of material that is in the liquid state at(or near)room temperature.They are particularly attractive due to their unique combination of a fluidic and metallic body,together with a chemically reactive and functionable surface.As a fluid,liquid metals provide the best union of stretchability,deformability,and electrical conductivity among all soft materials.Such an advantage in combination with their low toxicity and relatively good biocompatibility have imparted liquid metals with unique features that can be harnessed for versatile applications in fields such as electronics,energy,chemistry,and biomedical research.More importantly,the fluidic nature of liquid metals allows them to be readily processed using shear for making particles with variable sizes(from nm to mm),which is not possible with solid materials.These particles have a liquid metal core−solid metal oxide shell(conductor−semiconductor)structure,allowing them to merge,transform shape,change phase,respond to stimuli,and self-heal.