Molecular dynamics simulation of self-diffusion coefficients for liquid metals

The temperature-dependent coefficients of self-diffusion for liquid metals are simulated by molecular dynamics meth ods based on the embedded-atom-method （EAM） potential function. The simulated results show that a good inverse linear relation exists between the natural logarithm of self-diffusion coefficients and temperature, though the results in the litera ture vary somewhat, due to the employment of different potential functions. The estimated activation energy of liquid metals obtained by fitting the Arrhenius formula is close to the experimental data. The temperature-dependent shear-viscosities obtained from the Stokes-Einstein relation in conjunction with the results of molecular dynamics simulation are generally consistent with other values in the literature.

Wettability and Thermodynamic Adhesion of Liquid Metals on Solid Uranium Dioxide

Using the experimental results given in literatures about the contact angle, θ and the work of adhesion, W, for nonreactive liquid metal / solid UO_2 systems, the validity and feasibility of the different existing models for calculating W in the metal /ox- ide systems are discussed. It can be shown that the models assuming that only metal atom-oxygen ion interactions existing at the interfaces are unable to explain the experimental results for W. More reasonable model should take into account both metal atom-oxygen ion and metal atom-oxide metal cation interactions, the proportion of the latter is balanced by the stoichiometry of the oxide. By applying the model recently set up by the authors for binary alloy / oxide systems, one can use the experimental and calculated values of θ and W for various metal / UO_2 systems to predict the influence of metallic additions on the contact angle and the work of adhesion of a given metal / UO_2 system.

Hydrogen diffusion coefficient in liquid metals evaluated by solid-gas eutectic unidirectional solidification

Based on the solid-gas eutectic unidirectional solidification technique and the principle of unidirectional solidification of single-phase alloy, a new method for evaluating the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in liquid metals was proposed. Taking Cu-H2 system for example, the influences of argon partial pressure and superheat degree of melt on the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in liquid metal were studied and the predicted values were similar to each other. The obtained temperature-dependent equation for diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in liquid copper is comparable with experimental data in literature, which validates the effectiveness of this method. The temperature-dependent equations for diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in liquid Mg, Si and Cu-34.6%Mn alloy were also evaluated by this method, along with the values at the melting point of each metal and alloy.

Numerical investigation on flow process of liquid metals in melt delivery nozzle during gas atomization process for fine metal powder production

Based on volume of fluid(VoF)interface capturing method and shear-stress transport(SST)k-ω turbulence model,numerical simulation was performed to reveal the flow mechanism of metal melts in melt delivery nozzle(MDN)during gas atomization(GA)process.The experimental validation indicated that the numerical models could give a reasonable prediction on the melt flow process in the MDN.With the decrease of the MDN inner-diameter,the melt flow resistance increased for both molten aluminum and iron,especially achieving an order of 10^(2) kPa in the case of the MDN inner-diameter≤1 mm.Based on the conventional GA process,the positive pressure was imposed on the viscous aluminum alloy melt to overcome its flow resistance in the MDN,thus producing powders under different MDN inner-diameters.When the MDN inner-diameter was reduced from 4 to 2 mm,the yield of fine powder(<150μm)soared from 54.7%to 94.2%.The surface quality of powders has also been improved when using a smaller inner-diameter MDN.

A review on liquid metals as cathodes for molten salt/oxide electrolysis

Compared with solid metals,liquid metals are considered more promising cathodes for molten slat/oxide electrolysis due to their fascinating advantages,which include strong depolarization effect,strong alloying effect,excellent selective separation,and low operating temperature.In this review,we briefly introduce the properties of the liquid metal cathodes and their selection rules,and then summarize development in liquid metal cathodes for molten salt electrolysis,specifically the extraction of Ti and separation of actinides and rare-earth metals in halide melts.We also review recent attractive progress in the preparation of liquid Ti alloys via molten oxide electrolysis by using liquid metal cathodes.Problems related to high-quality alloy production and large-scale applications are cited,and several research directions to further improve the quality of alloys are also discussed to realize the industrial applications of liquid metal cathodes.

Bifunctional Liquid Metals Allow Electrical Insulating Phase Change Materials to Dual-Mode Thermal Manage the Li-Ion Batteries

Phase change materials(PCMs)are expected to achieve dual-mode thermal management for heating and cooling Li-ion batteries(LIBs)according to real-time thermal conditions,guaranteeing the reliable operation of LIBs in both cold and hot environments.Herein,we report a liquid metal(LM)modified polyethylene glycol/LM/boron nitride PCM,capable of dual-mode thermal managing the LIBs through photothermal effect and passive thermal conduction.Its geometrical conformation and thermal pathways fabricated through ice-template strategy are conformable to the LIB’s structure and heat-conduction characteristic.Typically,soft and deformable LMs are modified on the boron nitride surface,serving as thermal bridges to reduce the contact thermal resistance among adjacent fillers to realize high thermal conductivity of 8.8 and 7.6 W m^(−1) K^(−1) in the vertical and in-plane directions,respectively.In addition,LM with excellent photothermal performance provides the PCM with efficient battery heating capability if employing a controllable lighting system.As a proof-of-concept,this PCM is manifested to heat battery to an appropriate temperature range in a cold environment and lower the working temperature of the LIBs by more than 10℃ at high charging/discharging rate,opening opportunities for LIBs with durable working performance and evitable risk of thermal runaway.

Density Measurement of Liquid Metals Using Dilatometer

The dilatometer method for density measurement of liquid metals was improved to give a high measurement accuracy with simple operation. The density of liquid tin was measured and the results are in agreement with values in literature. The melting point density of liquid Sn was measured to be 6.966×10^3 Kg·m^-3 and the temperature （T） dependence of the density （p） for liquid Sn can be well described by a polynomial equation p（T）=7.406 - 9.94 × 10^-4T ＋ 2.12 × 106-7T2.

VARIATIONAL CALCULATION OF THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SUPERCOOLED LIQUID METALS

By means of Gibbs-Bogoliubov (GB) thermodynamic variational calculation,the thermodynamic properties of the supercooled liquid metals,such as the 3rd family elements Al,Ga and Tl and transition metal Ti were calculated using the hard-sphere (HS) system as reference.The values of mean atomic volume,Helmholtz free energy,internal energy and entropy as well as specific heat at constant volume,isothermal bulk modulus,thermal expan- sion coefficient and specfic heat under constant pressure were evaluated.The glass transition temperature,T_g,is easily obtained from the C_p-T plot.The glass forming ability for metal can be predicted from T_g/T_m,which is in agreement with the experimental results.

Adhesion between Nonreactive Liquid Metals and Transition Metal Carbides

On the basis of the experimental work of adhesion(W)data,the adhesion between transition metal car- bides and pure liquid metals which do not react with carbides is studied.In view of great scattering of the ex- perimental values of W,a critical analysis of these results is performed.The selected W values for 9 copper/carbide systems and 6 metal/TiC systems are used to discuss the various suggestions concerning the mechanism of adhesion and to evidence the role of the valence electrons of the both carbide and metal on the interactions between metals and carbides.The interactions between a metal and a carbide are essentially metal- lic interactions,resulting from the overlapping of the valence electrons at the metal/carbide interface.

MODEL FOR INFILTRATION KINETICS OF LIQUID METALS AND ITS APPLICATION

On the basis of fluid kinetics,a model for infiltration kinetics of liquid metals into fibre pre- fabricated composite has been proposed.The infiltration processing,together with the measurements of infiltrating velocity and permeability,for the C fibre-reinforced Al matrix composites have been studied.The model proposed seems to be in good agreement with the ex- perimental results.Two different infiltration modes,uniform and non-uniform,were found and a new technique was suggested.Thus,the quality composites of C fibre-reinforced Al may be made under low pressure regardless of non-wettability of liquid metal to the fibres.

Cost-effective fabrication of liquid metals via a laser induced graphene stamp for highly-stretchable integrated optoelectronics

Stretchable electronics have found widespread applications in various fields such as wearable electronics,soft robots,and bioelectronics.As an important promising alternative of traditional rigid conductors,liquid metals have demonstrated immense potential to provide high conductivity and stretchability for the stretchable electronic systems.However,limited by their fluidity and high surface tension,challenges remain in achieving liquid metal patterns with low-cost,high-precision,large-scale,and complex geometry.Here,a fabrication technique was proposed based on laser-induced graphene(LIG)stamps to enable liquid metal self-selectively adhere to substrates.Liquid metal patterns could thus be achieved in different designed geometries and could be transferred onto stretchable substrates.The liquid metal patterns exhibit exceptional electrical conductivity(3.24×10^(6)S/m even under 1000%strain),high stretchability(1000%strain,maximum of 2500%),small resistance changes under significant deformations(with a quality factor of 62.5 under 1000%strain),and high resolution(down to 50μm).Utilizing the patterned liquid metals,a stretchable integrated multifunctional optoelectronic system was demonstrated,encompassing a stretchable display matrix,a pressure sensor array,a wireless powering coil,and cardiovascular sensors,which further highlight the remarkable application potential of liquid metals in optoelectronic user-interaction and advanced physiological monitoring.

Room temperature self-healing liquid metals:capabilities,applications and challenges

Self-healing materials span diverse application fields,including flexible electronics,soft robotics,and energy devices.However,conventional self-healing materials pose a challenge in achiev-ing the delicate balance between flexibility and electrical con-ductivity.Moreover,they also suffer from prolonged healing times,incomplete healing,and high manufacturing costs.Liquid metals possess excellent self-healing capabilities owing to their unique combination of fluidic and metallic properties,high surface tension,and reversible solid-liquid phase change at room temperature,offering an intriguing material option for addressing the challenges associated with flexibility and elec-trical conductivity.In this review article,we comprehensively examine the domain of self-healing liquid metals from the standpoint of typical mechanisms underlying self-healing pro-cesses,as well as practical strategies employed for achieving such rejuvenation.Additionally,we explore representative applications that showcase the potential of these materials while aiming to provide a valuable reference for advancing and enhancing the field of self-healing materials.Future pro-spect along this direction is made.

Recent advances for liquid metals:Synthesis,modification and bio-applications

Considering the application requirements for modern biomedicine,research into novel biomaterials with unusual functions is highly desired.As an alternative,liquid metals(LMs),a nontraditional family of metal materials,have piqued the interest of biomedical researchers and made significant advances in biomed-ical areas,owing to their shape transformability,self-healing capability,excellent electrical,and thermal conductivities.In particular,many functionalized strategies for the preparation and modification of LMs or LMs-based composites to achieve extended biomedical applications have been investigated in recent years.These findings provided inspiring while constructive reference for the fabrication and engineering of novel LMs-based composites.Herein,in this topic review,we elaborate on the recent advances of LMs-based functional materials,with particular focuses on the synthesis,modification,and bio-applications,especially in antitumor therapy,antibacterial,contrast agent for imaging,bone repair,electronic skin sen-sor,and nerve connection agent.Further on,the current challenges and future prospects of LMs-based composites are carefully discussed.

Multiphase flow physics of room temperature liquid metals and its applications

Multiphase flow existing everywhere in the motion evolution of nature,industrial processes,and daily life,has been an interdisciplinary cutting-edge frontier covering rather diverse disciplines.Traditional multiphase flow of high melting metals typically involves gas/vapor-liquid two-phase fluidics which usually requests intense energy processes and therefore limits their applications to a large extent.Different from this,the newly emerging room-temperature liquid metals(RTLMs)with fascinating metallic fluidic properties and multifunctional behaviors,not only well resolve the existing challenges facing conventional technologies,but also open up a series of new scientific and engineering subjects.Especially the conceptual introduction of multiphase composites endows liquid metal with many unconventional fluidic capabilities.To further push forward the advancement of this new area,the present article is dedicated to systematically outlining the scientific category of RTLMs multiphase flow physics and interpreting its fundamental and practical issues.The vision is to provide insights into promising developmental directions of RTLMs multiphase flow and thus facilitate synergetic research and progress among different disciplines.First,the traditional metal multiphase flow was briefly introduced.Then,we summarized the physics of RTLMs multiphase flow,the common types of liquid metals,the basic physical and chemical properties of their multiphase flow and governing equations,etc.Following that,various typical driving modalities and manipulation methods of RTLMs were illustrated.Finally,important implementations of RTLMs multiphase flow into thermal management,energy harvesting,catalysis,soft machines,biomedicine,and printed electronics were discussed.Overall,the multiphase flow physics of RTLMs is currently still in its incubation stage and there exist tremendous opportunities and challenges which are worth further pursuing in the coming time.

Liquid Metal Grid Patterned Thin Film Devices Toward Absorption‑Dominant and Strain‑Tunable Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

The demand of high-performance thin-film-shaped deformable electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding devices is increasing for the next generation of wearable and miniaturized soft electronics.Although highly reflective conductive materials can effectively shield EMI,they prevent deformation of the devices owing to rigidity and generate secondary electromagnetic pollution simultaneously.Herein,soft and stretchable EMI shielding thin film devices with absorption-dominant EMI shielding behavior is presented.The devices consist of liquid metal(LM)layer and LM grid-patterned layer separated by a thin elastomeric film,fabricated by leveraging superior adhesion of aerosol-deposited LM on elastomer.The devices demonstrate high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness(SE)(SE_(T) of up to 75 dB)with low reflectance(SER of 1.5 dB at the resonant frequency)owing to EMI absorption induced by multiple internal reflection generated in the LM grid architectures.Remarkably,the excellent stretchability of the LM-based devices facilitates tunable EMI shielding abilities through grid space adjustment upon strain(resonant frequency shift from 81.3 to 71.3 GHz@33%strain)and is also capable of retaining shielding effectiveness even after multiple strain cycles.This newly explored device presents an advanced paradigm for powerful EMI shielding performance for next-generation smart electronics.

Materials,fundamentals,and technologies of liquid metals toward carbon neutrality

Carbon-neutral technologies are critical to ensure a stable future climate.Currently,low-melting-point liquid metals are emerging rapidly as important energy materials with significant potential to contribute to carbon neutrality.The advantages of gallium-and bismuth-based liquid metals,such as their high fluidity,low melting point,high thermal/electrical conductivity,unique chemical properties,non-flammability,and nontoxic characteristics,render them highly attractive for the development of advanced carbon-neutral technologies.Although their significance in both academia and industry has increased gradually,to the best of our knowledge,a systematic monograph of liquid-metal materials,mechanisms,and technologies toward carbon neutrality is not yet available.Therefore,we presented a comprehensive review of low-melting-point liquid metals for carbon neutrality.First,liquid-metal materials,including fluids,pastes,solids,and their composites were introduced.Subsequently,the mechanisms of liquid-metal technologies used to achieve carbon neutrality were interpreted.Finally,typical liquid-metal applications of carbon neutrality in the power,industry,transport,and building sectors were presented.Both the fundamental mechanisms and promising technologies were elaborated upon,and the critical assessment criteria for carbon-neutral technologies were discussed.The scientific and technical challenges and future perspectives in these areas were also highlighted.

Design of a 3D-printed liquid lithium divertor target plate and its interaction with high-density plasma

A liquid Li divertor is a promising alternative for future fusion devices.In this work a new divertor model is proposed,which is processed by 3D-printing technology to accurately control the size of the internal capillary structure.At a steady-state heat load of 10 MW m^(-2),the thermal stress of the tungsten target is within the bearing range of tungsten by finite-element simulation.In order to evaluate the wicking ability of the capillary structure,the wicking process at 600℃ was simulated by FLUENT.The result was identical to that of the corresponding experiments.Within 1 s,liquid lithium was wicked to the target surface by the capillary structure of the target and quickly spread on the target surface.During the wicking process,the average wicking mass rate of lithium should reach 0.062 g s^(-1),which could even supplement the evaporation requirement of liquid lithium under an environment>950℃.Irradiation experiments under different plasma discharge currents were carried out in a linear plasma device(SCU-PSI),and the evolution of the vapor cloud during plasma irradiation was analyzed.It was found that the target temperature tends to plateau despite the gradually increased input current,indicating that the vapor shielding effect is gradually enhanced.The irradiation experiment also confirmed that the 3D-printed tungsten structure has better heat consumption performance than a tungsten mesh structure or multichannel structure.These results reveal the application potential and feasibility of a 3D-printed porous capillary structure in plasma-facing components and provide a reference for further liquid-solid combined target designs.

Naturally Crosslinked Biocompatible Carbonaceous Liquid Metal Aqueous Ink Printing Wearable Electronics for Multi-Sensing and Energy Harvesting

Achieving flexible electronics with comfort and durability comparable to traditional textiles is one of the ultimate pursuits of smart wearables.Ink printing is desirable for e-textile development using a simple and inexpensive process.However,fabricating high-performance atop textiles with good dispersity,stability,biocompatibility,and wearability for high-resolution,large-scale manufacturing,and practical applications has remained challenging.Here,waterbased multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)-decorated liquid metal(LM)inks are proposed with carbonaceous gallium–indium micro-nanostructure.With the assistance of biopolymers,the sodium alginate-encapsulated LM droplets contain high carboxyl groups which non-covalently crosslink with silk sericin-mediated MWCNTs.E-textile can be prepared subsequently via printing technique and natural waterproof triboelectric coating,enabling good flexibility,hydrophilicity,breathability,wearability,biocompatibility,conductivity,stability,and excellent versatility,without any artificial chemicals.The obtained e-textile can be used in various applications with designable patterns and circuits.Multi-sensing applications of recognizing complex human motions,breathing,phonation,and pressure distribution are demonstrated with repeatable and reliable signals.Self-powered and energy-harvesting capabilities are also presented by driving electronic devices and lighting LEDs.As proof of concept,this work provides new opportunities in a scalable and sustainable way to develop novel wearable electronics and smart clothing for future commercial applications.

Liquid metal in prohibiting polysulfides shuttling in metal sulfides anode for sodium-ion batteries

Metal sulfides are a class of promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)owing to their high theoretical specific capacity.Nevertheless,the reactant products(polysulfides)could dissolve into electrolyte,shuttle across separator,and react with sodium anode,leading to severe capacity loss and safety concerns.Herein,for the first time,gallium(Ga)-based liquid metal(LM)alloy is incorporated with MoS_(2)nanosheets to work as an anode in SIBs.The electron-rich,ultrahigh electrical conductivity,and self-healing properties of LM endow the heterostructured MoS_(2)-LM with highly improved conductivity and electrode integrity.Moreover,LM is demonstrated to have excellent capability for the adsorption of polysulfides(e.g.,Na_(2)S,Na_(2)S_(6),and S_(8))and subsequent catalytic conversion of Na_(2)S.Consequently,the MoS_(2)-LM electrode exhibits superior ion diffusion kinetics and long cycling performance in SIBs and even in lithium/potassium-ion battery(LIB/PIB)systems,far better than those electrodes with conventional binders(polyvinylidene difluoride(PVDF)and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC)).This work provides a unique material design concept based on Ga-based liquid metal alloy for metal sulfide anodes in rechargeable battery systems and beyond.

High-performance liquid metal electromagnetic actuator fabricated by femtosecond laser

Small-scale electromagnetic soft actuators are characterized by a fast response and simplecontrol,holding prospects in the field of soft and miniaturized robotics.The use of liquid metal(LM)to replace a rigid conductor inside soft actuators can reduce the rigidity and enhance the actuation performance and robustness.Despite research efforts,challenges persist in the flexible fabrication of LM soft actuators and in the improvement of actuation performance.To address these challenges,we developed a fast and robust electromagnetic soft microplate actuator based on a laser-induced selective adhesion transfer method.Equipped with unprecedentedly thin LM circuit and customized low Young’s modulus silicone rubber(1.03 kPa),our actuator exhibits an excellent deformation angle(265.25?)and actuation bending angular velocity(284.66 rad·s^(-1)).Furthermore,multiple actuators have been combined to build an artificial gripper with a wide range of functionalities.Our actuator presents new possibilities for designing small-scaleartificial machines and supports advancements in ultrafast soft and miniaturized robotics.