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Kalantar-Zadeh K, Tang J, Daeneke T, O'Mullane AP, Stewart LA, Liu J, Majidi C, Ruoff RS, Weiss PS, Dickey MD. Emergence of Liquid Metals in Nanotechnology. ACS NANO 2019; 13:7388-7395. [PMID: 31245995 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b04843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Bulk liquid metals have prospective applications as soft and fluid electrical and thermal conductors in electronic and optical devices, composites, microfluidics, robotics, and metallurgy with unique opportunities for processing, chemistry, and function. Yet liquid metals' great potential in nanotechnology remains in its infancy. Although work to date focuses primarily on Ga, Hg, and their alloys, to expand the field, we define "liquid metals" as metals and alloys with melting points (mp) up to 330 °C, readily accessible and processable even using household kitchen appliances. Such a definition encompasses a family of metals-including the majority of post-transition metals and Zn group elements (excluding Zn itself)-with remarkable versatility in chemistry, physics, and engineering. These liquid alloys can create metallic compounds of different morphologies, compositions, and properties, thereby enabling control over nanoscale phenomena. In addition, the presence of electronic and ionic "pools" within the bulk of liquid metals, as well as deviation from classical metallurgy on the surfaces of liquid metals, provides opportunities for gaining new capabilities in nanotechnology. For example, the bulk and surfaces of liquid metals can be used as reaction media for creating and manipulating nanomaterials, promoting reactions, or controlling crystallization of dissolved species. Interestingly, liquid metals have enormous surface tensions, yet the tension can be tuned electrically over a wide range or modified via surface species, such as the native oxides. The ability to control the interfacial tension allows these liquids to be readily reduced in size to the nanoscale. The liquid nature of such nanoparticles enables shape-reconfigurable structures, the creation of soft metallic nanocomposites, and the dissolution or dispersion of other materials within (or on) the metal to produce multiphasic or heterostructure particles. This Perspective highlights the salient features of these materials and seeks to raise awareness of future opportunities to understand and to utilize liquid metals for nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh
- School of Chemical Engineering , University of New South Wales (UNSW) , Kensington , New South Wales 2052 , Australia
| | - Jianbo Tang
- School of Chemical Engineering , University of New South Wales (UNSW) , Kensington , New South Wales 2052 , Australia
| | - Torben Daeneke
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3000 , Australia
| | - Anthony P O'Mullane
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering , Queensland University of Technology (QUT) , Brisbane , Queensland 4001 , Australia
| | | | - Jing Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- School of Future Technology , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , China
| | - Carmel Majidi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Soft Machines Lab , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Rodney S Ruoff
- Department of Chemistry and School of Materials Science and Engineering , Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology , Ulsan 44919 , Republic of Korea
| | | | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , North Carolina State University , Raleigh , North Carolina 27695 , United States
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Chen S, Liu J. Spontaneous Dispersion and Large-Scale Deformation of Gallium-Based Liquid Metal Induced by Ferric Ions. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:2439-2447. [PMID: 30777756 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b12115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
A gallium-based liquid metal (LM) exhibits the largest interfacial tension among all the room-temperature liquids, which gives it strong deformability and promises its role in the field of soft machines. Paradoxically, such a material always remains nearly spherical in solution because of large interfacial tension, which in turn hinders the construction of LM-based soft machines. Consequently, it is of significant theoretical and practical value to regulate the interfacial tension of a LM in order to carry out richer deformation. In this study, spontaneous dispersion and large-scale deformation of a bulk LM were disclosed to be induced by ferric ions. It was found that the bulk LM immersed in the FeCl3 solution can spontaneously disperse into a large amount of droplets. In addition, the dispersed LM droplets could move and deform by increasing the concentration of the solution or adding acids. The mechanisms behind the untraditional phenomena lie in the nonuniform interfacial tension over the entire surface of the LM, which is associated with the space-time distribution of the FeCl3 solution. Further, directional locomotion and periodic oscillation occur because of the nonuniform interfacial tension, which leads to the autonomous dispersion and deformation of the LM. Overall, the unique redox reactions between the LM and the FeCl3 solution play an essential role in ensuring the continuity of deformation. The present spontaneous dispersion and deformation capability of the LM signify a paradigm shift and open up new possibilities for the development of chemistry-enabled soft machines in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Chen
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China.,School of Future Technology , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Jing Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China.,School of Future Technology , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , China
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He X, Wu C, Qian Y, Li Y, Zhang L, Ding F, Chen H, Shen J. Highly sensitive and selective light-up fluorescent probe for monitoring gallium and chromium ions in vitro and in vivo. Analyst 2019; 144:3807-3816. [DOI: 10.1039/c9an00625g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Here reported an NBDT sensor could be effectively responsive to gallium and chromium for bio-imaging in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun He
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry
- School of Biomedical Engineering
- Wenzhou Medical University
- Wenzhou
- China
| | - Chenglin Wu
- Organ Transplant Center
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
- Guangzhou
- China
| | - Yuna Qian
- Wenzhou Institute of Biomaterials and Engineering
- Chinese Academy of Science
- Wenzhou
- China
| | - Yahui Li
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry
- School of Biomedical Engineering
- Wenzhou Medical University
- Wenzhou
- China
| | - Lilei Zhang
- College of Food and Drug
- Luoyang Normal University
- Luoyang
- China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
- School of Basic Medical Sciences
- Wenzhou Medical University
- Wenzhou
- China
| | - Hong Chen
- College of Food and Drug
- Luoyang Normal University
- Luoyang
- China
| | - Jianliang Shen
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry
- School of Biomedical Engineering
- Wenzhou Medical University
- Wenzhou
- China
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Joshipura ID, Ayers HR, Castillo GA, Ladd C, Tabor CE, Adams JJ, Dickey MD. Patterning and Reversible Actuation of Liquid Gallium Alloys by Preventing Adhesion on Rough Surfaces. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:44686-44695. [PMID: 30532957 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b13099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This work reports a simple approach to form, study, and utilize rough coatings that prevent the adhesion of gallium-based liquid metal alloys. Typically, liquids with large interfacial tension do not wet nonreactive surfaces, regardless of surface topography. However, these alloys form a surface oxide "skin" that adheres to many substrates, even those with low surface energy. This work reports a simple approach to render closed channels and surfaces, including soft materials, to be "oxide-phobic" via spray-coating (NeverWet, which is commercially available and inexpensive). Surface spectroscopic techniques and metrology tools elucidate the coatings to comprise silica nanoparticles grafted with silicones that exhibit dual length scales of roughness. Although prior work shows the importance of surface roughness in preventing adhesion, the present work confirms that both hydrophobic and hydrophilic rough surfaces prevent oxide adhesion. Furthermore, the coating enables reversible actuation through submillimeter closed channels to form a reconfigurable antenna in the gigahertz range without the need for corrosive acids or bases that remove the oxide. In addition, the coating enables open surface patterning of conductive traces of liquid metal. This shows it is possible to actuate liquid metals in air without leaving neither metal nor oxide residue on surfaces to enable reconfigurable electronics, microfluidics, and soft electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Christopher E Tabor
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate , Air Force Research Laboratories , Wright Patterson , Ohio , United States
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Syed N, Zavabeti A, Messalea KA, Della Gaspera E, Elbourne A, Jannat A, Mohiuddin M, Zhang BY, Zheng G, Wang L, Russo SP, Dorna Esrafilzadeh, McConville CF, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Daeneke T. Wafer-Sized Ultrathin Gallium and Indium Nitride Nanosheets through the Ammonolysis of Liquid Metal Derived Oxides. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 141:104-108. [PMID: 30571094 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We report the synthesis of centimeter sized ultrathin GaN and InN. The synthesis relies on the ammonolysis of liquid metal derived two-dimensional (2D) oxide sheets that were squeeze-transferred onto desired substrates. Wurtzite GaN nanosheets featured typical thicknesses of 1.3 nm, an optical bandgap of 3.5 eV and a carrier mobility of 21.5 cm2 V-1 s-1, while the InN featured a thickness of 2.0 nm. The deposited nanosheets were highly crystalline, grew along the (001) direction and featured a thickness of only three unit cells. The method provides a scalable approach for the integration of 2D morphologies of industrially important semiconductors into emerging electronics and optical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitu Syed
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Ali Zavabeti
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Kibret A Messalea
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | | | - Aaron Elbourne
- School of Science , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Azmira Jannat
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Md Mohiuddin
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Bao Yue Zhang
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Guolin Zheng
- School of Science , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Lan Wang
- School of Science , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Salvy P Russo
- School of Science , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Dorna Esrafilzadeh
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Chris F McConville
- School of Science , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh
- School of Chemical Engineering , University of New South Wales (UNSW) , Kensington , New South Wales 2052 , Australia
| | - Torben Daeneke
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
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Xiao X, Wang H, Urbankowski P, Gogotsi Y. Topochemical synthesis of 2D materials. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:8744-8765. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00649k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes the rapidly-developed topochemical synthesis of 2D materials, explains the growth mechanisms and provides outlooks for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Xiao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and A. J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute
- Drexel University
- Philadelphia
- USA
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and A. J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute
- Drexel University
- Philadelphia
- USA
| | - Patrick Urbankowski
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and A. J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute
- Drexel University
- Philadelphia
- USA
| | - Yury Gogotsi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and A. J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute
- Drexel University
- Philadelphia
- USA
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