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Natural soft tissue achieves a rich variety of functionality through a hierarchy of molecular, microscale, and mesoscale structures and ordering. Inspired by such architectures, we introduce a soft, multifunctional composite capable of a unique combination of sensing, mechanically robust electronic connectivity, and active shape morphing. The material is composed of a compliant and deformable liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) matrix that can achieve macroscopic shape change through a liquid crystal phase transition. The matrix is dispersed with liquid metal (LM) microparticles that are used to tailor the thermal and electrical conductivity of the LCE without detrimentally altering its mechanical or shape-morphing properties. Demonstrations of this composite for sensing, actuation, circuitry, and soft robot locomotion suggest the potential for versatile, tissue-like multifunctionality.

Sodium under pressure It has recently been shown that, when high pressures are applied, crystals of lithium and sodium undergo a sequence of phase transitions — including (for sodium) a striking and as yet unexplained pressure-induced drop in the melting temperature. Jean-Yves Raty et al . have now identified the cause of this unusual melting behaviour: it emerges because liquid sodium undergoes a series of transitions similar to those seen in the solid state, but at much lower pressures. Intriguingly, one of these transitions is driven by the opening of a 'pseudogap' in the electronic density of states, the first time such an effect has been seen in a liquid metal. When high pressures are applied, crystals of lithium and sodium undergo a sequence of phase transitions, including a striking pressure-induced drop in the melting temperature. The cause of the unusual melting behaviour has now been identified: it emerges because liquid sodium undergoes a series of transitions similar to those seen in the solid state, but at much lower pressures. One of these transitions is driven by the opening of a 'pseudogap' in the electronic density of states. At ambient conditions, the light alkali metals are free-electron-like crystals with a highly symmetric structure. However, they were found recently to exhibit unexpected complexity under pressure 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 . It was predicted from theory 1 , 2 —and later confirmed by experiment 3 , 4 , 5 —that lithium and sodium undergo a sequence of symmetry-breaking transitions, driven by a Peierls mechanism, at high pressures. Measurements of the sodium melting curve 6 have subsequently revealed an unprecedented (and still unexplained) pressure-induced drop in melting temperature from 1,000 K at 30 GPa down to room temperature at 120 GPa. Here we report results from ab initio calculations that explain the unusual melting behaviour in dense sodium. We show that molten sodium undergoes a series of pressure-induced structural and electronic transitions, analogous to those observed in solid sodium but commencing at much lower pressure in the presence of liquid disorder. As pressure is increased, liquid sodium initially evolves by assuming a more compact local structure. However, a transition to a lower-coordinated liquid takes place at a pressure of around 65 GPa, accompanied by a threefold drop in electrical conductivity. This transition is driven by the opening of a pseudogap, at the Fermi level, in the electronic density of states—an effect that has not hitherto been observed in a liquid metal. The lower-coordinated liquid emerges at high temperatures and above the stability region of a close-packed free-electron-like metal. We predict that similar exotic behaviour is possible in other materials as well.

Gallium (Ga) and Ga-based liquid metal (LM) alloys offer low toxicity, excellent electrical and thermal conductivities, and fluidity at or near room temperature. Ga-based LM particles (LMPs) synthesized from these LMs exhibit both fluidic and metallic properties and are suitable for versatile functionalization in therapeutics. Functionalized Ga-based LMPs can be actuated using physical or chemical stimuli for drug delivery, cancer treatment, bioimaging, and biosensing. However, many of the fundamentals of their unique characteristics for therapeutics remain underexplored. We present the most recent advances in Ga-based LMPs in therapeutics based on the underlying mechanisms of their design and implementation. We also highlight some future biotechnological opportunities for Ga-based LMPs based on their extraordinary advantages. The surface tension of gallium (Ga)-based liquid metals (LMs) can be broken using mechanical and chemical means, and smaller Ga-based LM particles (LMPs) can be constructed.Ga-based LMPs offer both fluidic and metallic cores and peculiar interfacial properties, which differ fundamentally from the properties of solid metal particles.Ga-based LMPs hold great potential for therapeutics. Functionalized Ga-based LMPs can be designed and activated for drug delivery, cancer treatment, bioimaging, and biosensing on stimulation by light, electromagnetic fields, mechanical means, or chemical reactions.Fundamental understanding of the effects of Ga-based LMPs’ surface oxides, their interactions with cells and their organelles, and their specific alloy composition with other elements should be further explored to expand the horizons of therapeutics using LMPs.

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are one of the most exciting inventions of the 20th century and have been widely employed in modern society. LIBs have powered many of our electronics, such as laptop computers, smartphones, and even large‐scale energy storage systems. With the development of modern technology, next‐generation LIBs with higher energy density are in demand. A number of electrode materials with high theoretical capacity, including Sn, Si, Li metal anode, and S cathode materials, have been explored. Nevertheless, they usually suffer from structural or interface failure during cycling, limiting their practical application. Ga‐based liquid metals (LMs) possess self‐healing capability, fluidity, and metallic advantages so they have been employed as self‐healing skeletons or interfacial protective layers to minimize the negative impact of volume expansion or dendritic growth on the electrode materials. Herein, the features of Ga‐based LMs are briefly discussed to indicate their potential for battery systems. In addition, recent developments on Ga‐based LMs applied in LIBs have been summarized, including from the aspects of anodes, cathodes, and electrolytes. Finally, future opportunities and challenges for the development of Ga‐based LMs in LIBs are highlighted. Ga‐based liquid metals (LMs) applied in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have been systematically reviewed, including the characteristic of Ga‐based LMs, and their application in anodes, cathodes, and electrolytes. The advances and key issues of LMs in the design electrode/electrolyte interface are discussed in detail. The perspectives for the future development of Ga‐based LMs in LIBs are also proposed.

Hydrogels, renowned for their hydrophilic and viscoelastic properties, have emerged as key materials for flexible electronics, including electronic skins, wearable devices, and soft sensors. However, the application of pure double network hydrogel-based composites is limited by their poor chemical stability, low mechanical stretchability, and low sensitivity. Recent research has focused on overcoming these limitations by incorporating conductive fillers, such as liquid metals (LMs), into hydrogel matrices or creating continuous conductive paths through LMs within the polymer matrix. LMs, including eutectic gallium and indium (EGaIn) alloys, offer exceptional electromechanical, electrochemical, thermal conductivity, and self-repairing properties, making them ideal candidates for diverse soft electronic applications. The integration of LMs into hydrogels improves conductivity and mechanical performance while addressing the challenges posed by rigid fillers, such as mismatched compliance with the hydrogel matrix. This review explores the incorporation of LMs into hydrogel composites, the challenges faced in achieving optimal dispersion, and the unique functionalities introduced by these composites. We also discuss recent advances in the use of LM droplets for polymerization processes and their applications in various fields, including tissue engineering, wearable devices, biomedical applications, electromagnetic shielding, energy harvesting, and storage. Additionally, 3D-printable hydrogels are highlighted. Despite the promise of LM-based hydrogels, challenges such as macrophase separation, weak interfacial interactions between LMs and polymer networks, and the difficulty of printing LM inks onto hydrogel substrates limit their broader application. However, this review proposes solutions to these challenges.

HighlightsA conductive, stretchable, adaptable, and self-healing, GaInSn/Ni--based composite hydrogel by incorporating a magnetic liquid metal into the hydrogel framework through crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol with sodium tetraborate.The multifunctional composite hydrogels showed outstanding performance for magnetic repair movement sensing, and EMI shielding.Hydrogels exhibit potential applications in smart wearable devices because of their exceptional sensitivity to various external stimuli. However, their applications are limited by challenges in terms of issues in biocompatibility, custom shape, and self-healing. Herein, a conductive, stretchable, adaptable, self-healing, and biocompatible liquid metal GaInSn/Ni-based composite hydrogel is developed by incorporating a magnetic liquid metal into the hydrogel framework through crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with sodium tetraborate. The excellent stretchability and fast self-healing capability of the PVA/liquid metal hydrogel are derived from its abundant hydrogen binding sites and liquid metal fusion. Significantly, owing to the magnetic constituent, the PVA/liquid metal hydrogel can be guided remotely using an external magnetic field to a specific position to repair the broken wires with no need for manual operation. The composite hydrogel also exhibits sensitive deformation responses and can be used as a strain sensor to monitor various body motions. Additionally, the multifunctional hydrogel displays absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. The total shielding performance of the composite hydrogel increases to ~ 62.5 dB from ~ 31.8 dB of the pure PVA hydrogel at the thickness of 3.0 mm. The proposed bioinspired multifunctional magnetic hydrogel demonstrates substantial application potential in the field of intelligent wearable devices.

Liquid metals corrode structure materials in fusion, fission, and spallation applications. A duct strongly cooled on the outside surface is proposed to mitigate or eliminate the corrosion problem. A solidified metal layer between the cool duct ( T duct < T melt ) and the liquid metal could serve as an interface to protect the duct from corrosion.

In this work we describe a soft and ultrastretchable fiber with a magnetic liquid metal (MLM) core for electrical switches used in remote magnetic actuation. MLM was prepared by removing the oxide layer on the liquid metal and subsequent mixing with magnetic iron particles. We used SEBS (poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene]) and silicone to prepare stretchable elastic fibers. Once hollow elastic fibers form, MLM was injected into the core of the fiber at ambient pressure. The fibers are soft (Young’s modulus of 1.6~4.4 MPa) and ultrastretchable (elongation at break of 600~5000%) while maintaining electrical conductivity and magnetic property due to the fluidic nature of the core. Magnetic strength of the fibers was characterized by measuring the maximum effective distance between the magnet and the fiber as a function of iron particle concentration in the MLM core and the polymeric shell. The MLM core facilitates the use of the fiber in electrical switches for remote magnetic actuation. This ultrastretchable and elastic fiber with MLM core can be used in soft robotics, and wearable and conformal electronics.

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.

Intrinsically ductile metals are prone to catastrophic failure when exposed to certain liquid metals, but the atomic-level mechanism for this effect is not fully understood. We characterized a model system, a nickel sample infused with bismuth atoms, by using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and observed a bilayer interfacial phase that is the underlying cause of embrittlement. This finding provides a new perspective for understanding the atomic-scale embrittlement mechanism and for developing strategies to control the practically important liquid metal embrittlement and the more general grain boundary embrittlement phenomena in alloys. This study further demonstrates that adsorption can induce a coupled grain boundary structural and chemical phase transition that causes drastic changes in properties.