Liquid metal derived MOF functionalized nanoarrays with ultra-wideband electromagnetic absorption

A liquid metal-polydopamine composite for cell culture and electro-stimulation

Gallium (Ga) is a low melting point metal in the liquid state in the biological environment which presents a unique combination of fluidity, softness, and metallic electrical and thermal properties. In this work, liquid Ga is proposed as a biocompatible electrode material for cell culture by electro-stimulation since the cytotoxicity of Ga is generally considered low and some Ga compounds have been reported to exhibit anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Complementarily, polydopamine (PDA) was coated on liquid Ga to increase the attachment capability of cells on the liquid Ga electrode and provide enhanced biocompatibility. The liquid Ga layer could be readily painted at room temperature on a solid inert substrate, followed by the formation of a nanoscale PDA coating layer resulting in a conformable and biocompatible composite electrode. The PDA layer was shown to coordinate with Ga³⁺, which is sourced from liquid Ga, providing electrical conductivity in the cell culture medium. The PDA-Ga³⁺ composite acted as a conductive substrate for advanced electro-stimulation for cell culture methods of representative animal fibroblasts. The cell proliferation was observed to increase by ∼143% as compared to a standard glass coverslip at a low potential of 0.1 V of direct coupling stimulation. This novel PDA-Ga³⁺ composite has potential applications in cell culture and regenerative medicine.

Formation of inorganic liquid gallium particle-manganese oxide composites

Gallium (Ga) is a low melting point post-transition metal that, under mild mechanical agitation, can form micron and submicron-sized particles with combined fluid-like and metallic properties. In this work, an inorganic network of Ga liquid metal particles was synthesised via spontaneous formation of manganese (Mn) oxide species on their liquid metallic surfaces forming an all-inorganic composite. The micron-sized Ga particles formed by sonication were connected together by Mn oxide nanostructures spontaneously established from the reduction of a Mn salt in aqueous solution slightly above the melting point of Ga. The formed Mn oxide nanostructures were found to coalesce from the surface of the Ga particles into a continuous inorganic network. The morphology of the composites could be altered by varying the Mn salt concentration and by performing post-treatment annealing. The composites presented a shell of various Mn oxide nanostructures including wrinkled sheets, rods and nanoneedles, around spherical liquid Ga particles, and a liquid metal core. The photoelectric and optical properties of the composites were thoroughly characterised, which revealed decreasing bandgaps and valence band edge characteristics as a function of increased Mn oxide coverage. The photoluminescence properties of the composites could be also engineered by increasing the Mn oxide coverage. The all-inorganic liquid Ga composite could be formed via a straightforward reduction reaction of a Mn-rich salt at the surface of liquid Ga particles with tunable surface properties for future optoelectronic applications.

Low-Frequency Broadband Absorbing Coatings Based on MOFs: Design, Fabrication, Microstructure and Properties

Although most microwave absorbing materials (MAMs) have good absorption ability above 8 GHz, they perform poorly in the low-frequency range (1–8 GHz). Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) derived carbon-based composites have been highly sought after in electromagnetic materials and functional devices, due to their high specific area, high porosity, high thermal stability, low reflection loss, and adjustable composition. In this review, we first introduce the three loss types of MAMs and argue that composite materials are effective ways to achieve broadband absorption. Secondly, the absorbing properties of traditional materials and MOF materials in the literature are compared, followed by a discussion of the promising strategies for designing MAMs with broadband absorption in low frequencies based on the recent progress. Finally, the main problems, fabrication methods, and applications are discussed for their future prospects.

State of the Art and Prospects in Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Microwave Absorption Materials

Microwave has been widely used in many fields, including communication, medical treatment and military industry; however, the corresponding generated radiations have been novel hazardous sources of pollution threating human's daily life. Therefore, designing high-performance microwave absorption materials (MAMs) has become an indispensable requirement. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been considered as one of the most ideal precursor candidates of MAMs because of their tunable structure, high porosity and large specific surface area. Usually, MOF-derived MAMs exhibit excellent electrical conductivity, good magnetism and sufficient defects and interfaces, providing obvious merits in both impedance matching and microwave loss. In this review, the recent research progresses on MOF-derived MAMs were profoundly reviewed, including the categories of MOFs and MOF composites precursors, design principles, preparation methods and the relationship between mechanisms of microwave absorption and microstructures of MAMs. Finally, the current challenges and prospects for future opportunities of MOF-derived MAMs are also discussed.