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Shen Y, Jin D, Li T, Yang X, Ma X. Magnetically Responsive Gallium-Based Liquid Metal: Preparation, Property and Application. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 39073895 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c07051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Magnetically responsive soft smart materials have garnered significant academic attention due to their flexibility, remote controllability, and reconfigurability. However, traditional soft materials used in the construction of these magnetically responsive systems typically exhibit low density and poor thermal and electrical conductivities. These limitations result in suboptimal performance in applications such as medical radiography, high-performance electronic devices, and thermal management. To address these challenges, magnetically responsive gallium-based liquid metals have emerged as promising alternatives. In this review, we summarize the methodologies for achieving magnetically responsive liquid metals, including the integration of magnetic agents into the liquid metal matrix and the utilization of induced Lorentz forces. We then provide a comprehensive discussion of the key physicochemical properties of these materials and the factors influencing them. Additionally, we explore the advanced and potential applications of magnetically responsive liquid metals. Finally, we discuss the current challenges in this field and present an outlook on future developments and research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Shen
- Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, School of Integrated Circuits, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
- Center for X-Mechanics, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Dongdong Jin
- Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, School of Integrated Circuits, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Tiefeng Li
- Center for X-Mechanics, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xuxu Yang
- Center for X-Mechanics, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xing Ma
- Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, School of Integrated Circuits, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
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2
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Agarwal R, Mohamad A. Gallium-based liquid metals as smart responsive materials: Morphological forms and stimuli characterization. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 329:103183. [PMID: 38788305 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Gallium-based liquid metals (GaLMs) have garnered monumental attention from the scientific community due to their diverse actuation characteristics. These metals possess remarkable characteristics, including high surface tension, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, phase transformation behaviour, minimal viscosity and vapour pressure, lack of toxicity, and biocompatibility. In addition, GaLMs have melting points that are either lower or near room temperature, making them incredibly beneficial when compared to solid metals since they can be easily deformed. Thus, there has been significant progress in developing multifunctional devices using GaLMs, including bio-devices, flexible and self-healing circuits, and actuators. Despite numerous reports on these liquid metals (LMs), there is an urgent need for consolidated and coherent literature regarding their actuation principles linked to the targeted application. This will ensure that the reader gets the flavour of physics behind the actuation mechanism and how it can be utilized in diverse fields. Moreover, the actuation mechanism has been scattered in the literature, and thus, the primary motive of this review is to provide a one-stop solution for the actuation mechanism and the associated dynamics while directing the readers to specialized literature. Thus, addressing this issue, we thoroughly examine and present a detailed account of the actuation mechanisms of GaLMs while highlighting the science behind them. We also discuss the various morphologies of GaLMs and their crucial physical characteristics which decide their targeted application. Furthermore, we also delve into commonly held beliefs about GaLMs in the literature, such as their toxicity and antibacterial properties, to offer readers a more accurate understanding. Finally, we have explored several key unanswered aspects of the LM that should be explored in future research. The core strength of this review lies in its simplistic approach in offering a starting point for researchers venturing this innovative field, while we make use of existing literature to develop a comprehensive understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Agarwal
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Abdulmajeed Mohamad
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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3
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Zhang Y, Wang C, Yin M, Liang H, Gao Q, Hu S, Guo W. Liquid Metal Nanocores Initiated Construction of Smart DNA-Polymer Microgels with Programmable and Regulable Functions and Near-Infrared Light-Driven Locomotion. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202311678. [PMID: 37963813 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202311678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Due to their sequence-directed functions and excellent biocompatibility, smart DNA microgels have attracted considerable research interest, and the combination of DNA microgels with functional nanostructures can further expand their applications in biosensing and biomedicine. Gallium-based liquid metals (LMs) exhibiting both fluidic and metallic properties hold great promise for the development of smart soft materials; in particular, LM particles upon sonication can mediate radical-initiated polymerization reactions, thus allowing the combination of LMs and polymeric matrix to construct "soft-soft" materials. Herein, by forming active surfaces under sonication, LM nanoparticles (LM NPs) initiated localized radical polymerization reactions allow the combination of functional DNA units and different polymeric backbones to yield multifunctional core/shell microgels. The localized polymerization reaction allows fine control of the microgel compositions, and smart DNA microgels with tunable catalytic activities can be constructed. Moreover, due to the excellent photothermal effect of LM NPs, the resulting temperature gradient between microgels and surrounding solution upon NIR light irradiation can drive the oriented locomotion of the microgels, and remote control of the activity of these smart microgels can be achieved. These microgels may hold promise for various applications, such as the development of in vivo and in vitro biosensing and drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxing Zhang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 30071, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 30071, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Mengyuan Yin
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 30071, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Hanxue Liang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 30071, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Qi Gao
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 30071, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Shanjin Hu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 30071, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Guo
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 30071, Tianjin, P. R. China
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4
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Liao J, Majidi C, Sitti M. Liquid Metal Actuators: A Comparative Analysis of Surface Tension Controlled Actuation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2300560. [PMID: 37358049 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metals, with their unique combination of electrical and mechanical properties, offer great opportunities for actuation based on surface tension modulation. Thanks to the scaling laws of surface tension, which can be electrochemically controlled at low voltages, liquid metal actuators stand out from other soft actuators for their remarkable characteristics such as high contractile strain rates and higher work densities at smaller length scales. This review summarizes the principles of liquid metal actuators and discusses their performance as well as theoretical pathways toward higher performances. The objective is to provide a comparative analysis of the ongoing development of liquid metal actuators. The design principles of the liquid metal actuators are analyzed, including low-level elemental principles (kinematics and electrochemistry), mid-level structural principles (reversibility, integrity, and scalability), and high-level functionalities. A wide range of practical use cases of liquid metal actuators from robotic locomotion and object manipulation to logic and computation is reviewed. From an energy perspective, strategies are compared for coupling the liquid metal actuators with an energy source toward fully untethered robots. The review concludes by offering a roadmap of future research directions of liquid metal actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahe Liao
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstr. 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Carmel Majidi
- Robotics Institute, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstr. 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
- School of Medicine, College of Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul, 34450, Turkey
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5
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Seo D, Kang S, Ryou H, Shin M, Hwang WS. Wide-Range Synaptic Current Responses with a Liquid Ga Electrode via a Surface Redox Reaction in a NaOH Solution at Different Molar Concentrations. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:41495-41501. [PMID: 37970006 PMCID: PMC10634217 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
A liquid Ga-based synaptic device with two-terminal electrodes is demonstrated in NaOH solutions at 50 °C. The proposed electrochemical redox device using the liquid Ga electrode in the NaOH solution can emulate various biological synapses that require different decay constants. The device exhibits a wide range of current decay times from 60 to 320 ms at different NaOH mole concentrations from 0.2 to 1.6 M. This research marks a step forward in the development of flexible and biocompatible neuromorphic devices that can be utilized for a range of applications where different synaptic strengths are required lasting from a few milliseconds to seconds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahee Seo
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea
Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic
of Korea
- Department
of Smart Air Mobility, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongyeon Kang
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea
Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic
of Korea
| | - Heejoong Ryou
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea
Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic
of Korea
- Department
of Smart Air Mobility, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
| | - Myunghun Shin
- School
of Electronics and Information Engineering, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic
of Korea
| | - Wan Sik Hwang
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea
Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic
of Korea
- Department
of Smart Air Mobility, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
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6
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Seo D, Ryou H, Hong SW, Seo JH, Shin M, Hwang WS. Synaptic Current Response of a Liquid Ga Electrode via a Surface Electrochemical Redox Reaction in a NaOH Solution. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:19872-19878. [PMID: 35721935 PMCID: PMC9202024 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
An ionic device using a liquid Ga electrode in a 1 M NaOH solution is proposed to generate artificial neural spike signals. The oxidation and reduction at the liquid Ga surface were investigated for different bias voltages at 50 °C. When the positive sweep voltage from the starting voltage (V S) of 1 V was applied to the Ga electrode, the oxidation current flowed immediately and decreased exponentially with time. The spike and decay current behavior resembled the polarization and depolarization at the influx and extrusion of Ca2+ in biological synapses. Different average decay times of ∼81 and ∼310 ms were implemented for V S of -2 and -5 V, respectively, to mimic the synaptic responses to short- and long-term plasticity; these decay states can be exploited for application in binary electrochemical memory devices. The oxidation mechanism of liquid Ga was studied. The differences in Ga ion concentration due to V S led to differences in oxidation behavior. Our device is beneficial for the organ cell-machine interface system because liquid Ga is biocompatible and flexible; thus, it can be applied in biocompatible and flexible neuromorphic device development for neuroprosthetics, human cell-machine interface formation, and personal health care monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahee Seo
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea
Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
- Smart
Drone Convergence, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejoong Ryou
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea
Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
| | - Suck Won Hong
- Department
of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Department of Optics and Mechatronics
Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hyun Seo
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea
Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
| | - Myunghun Shin
- School
of Electronics and Information Engineering, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan Sik Hwang
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea
Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
- Smart
Drone Convergence, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Republic of Korea
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Xue R, Guo W, Tao Y, Ren Y. A tripodal wheeled mobile robot driven by a liquid metal motor. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1943-1950. [PMID: 35510601 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00267a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As a novel driving concept, the liquid metal motor (LMM) has been regarded as a promising actuator due to its unique traits, such as infinitely variable speed, lack of transmission chain, convenient maintenance, and silence. However, at present, driving devices based on this material are still in the preliminary and rudimentary stage, and representative application examples are scarce. Therefore, an 8-shaped tripodal wheeled mobile robot (WMR) completely driven by a LMM is designed in this study to further prove the practicability of this material. Through combining the Marangoni surface flow on a liquid metal droplet (LMD) caused by an electrochemical reaction and the eccentric torque generated by the change in droplet shape and position, the two independently driven wheels of the mobile robot are actuated at differential moving speeds. Additionally, a matching control module, a cell phone application, and a battery have been developed and added for wireless control of three types of driving functions (moving forward, steering, and stopping). It is expected that this work could further advance the development and application of LMMs and bring new ideas to the design of WMRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenshang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ye Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yukun Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Responsive Liquid Metal Droplets: From Bulk to Nano. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12081289. [PMID: 35457997 PMCID: PMC9026530 DOI: 10.3390/nano12081289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Droplets exist widely in nature and play an extremely important role in a broad variety of industrial processes. Typical droplets, including water and oil droplets, have received extensive attention and research, however their single properties still cannot meet diverse needs. Fortunately, liquid metal droplets emerging in recent years possess outstanding properties, including large surface tension, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, convenient chemical processing, easy transition between liquid and solid phase state, and large-scale deformability, etc. More interestingly, liquid metal droplets with unique features can respond to external factors, including the electronic field, magnetic field, acoustic field, chemical field, temperature, and light, exhibiting extraordinary intelligent response characteristics. Their development over the past decade has brought substantial breakthroughs and progress. To better promote the advancement of this field, the present article is devoted to systematically summarizing and analyzing the recent fundamental progress of responsive liquid metal droplets, not only involving droplet characteristics and preparation methods, but also focusing on their diverse response behaviors and mechanisms. On this basis, the challenges and prospects related to the following development of liquid metal droplets are also proposed. In the future, responsive liquid metal droplets with a rapid development trend are expected to play a key role in soft robots, biomedicine, smart matter, and a variety of other fields.
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9
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Ge Z, Tao Y, Liu W, Song C, Xue R, Jiang H, Ren Y. DC electric field-driven heartbeat phenomenon of gallium-based liquid metal on a floating electrode. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:609-616. [PMID: 34929022 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01550h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The heart beating phenomenon of room temperature liquid metal (LM) mercury has attracted much attention in the past years, but its research and application are limited because of the low vapor pressure and high toxicity. Here, a fundamental scientific finding is reported that the non-toxic eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) alloy droplets beat periodically at a certain frequency based on a floating electrode under the stimulation of the direct current (DC) field. The essential characteristics of heart beating are the displacement and the projected area change of the LM droplet. The mechanism of this phenomenon is the self-regulation of interfacial tension caused by chemical oxidation, chemical corrosion, and continuous electrowetting. In this article, a series of experiments are also carried out to examine the effects of different factors on the heartbeat, such as voltage, the volume of the droplet, the droplet immersion depth, the electrolyte solution concentration, the distance of electrodes, and the type of floating electrode. Finally, the heartbeat state and application boundary of the LM droplet under different conditions are summarized by imitating the human life process. The periodic changes of the LM droplet under an external DC electric field provide a new method to simulate the beating of the heart artificially, and can be applied to the research of organ chip fluid pumping in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyou Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ye Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Physics Harvard University, 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Weiyu Liu
- Chang'an University, Middle-Section of Nan'er Huan Road, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Chunlei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Rui Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongyuan Jiang
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yukun Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China.
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10
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Baharfar M, Mayyas M, Rahbar M, Allioux FM, Tang J, Wang Y, Cao Z, Centurion F, Jalili R, Liu G, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Exploring Interfacial Graphene Oxide Reduction by Liquid Metals: Application in Selective Biosensing. ACS NANO 2021; 15:19661-19671. [PMID: 34783540 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c06973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metals (LMs) are electronic liquid with enigmatic interfacial chemistry and physics. These features make them promising materials for driving chemical reactions on their surfaces for designing nanoarchitectonic systems. Herein, we showed the interfacial interaction between eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) liquid metal and graphene oxide (GO) for the reduction of both substrate-based and free-standing GO. NanoIR surface mapping indicated the successful removal of carbonyl groups. Based on the gained knowledge, a composite consisting of assembled reduced GO sheets on LM microdroplets (LM-rGO) was developed. The LM enforced Ga3+ coordination within the rGO assembly found to modify the electrochemical interface for selective dopamine sensing by separating the peaks of interfering biologicals. Subsequently, paper-based electrodes were developed and modified with the LM-rGO that presented the compatibility of the assembly with low-cost commercial technologies. The observed interfacial interaction, imparted by LM's interfaces, and electrochemical performance observed for LM-rGO will lead to effective functional materials and electrode modifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahroo Baharfar
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Mohannad Mayyas
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Mohammad Rahbar
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Francois-Marie Allioux
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Jianbo Tang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Yifang Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Zhenbang Cao
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Franco Centurion
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Rouhollah Jalili
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Guozhen Liu
- School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, P. R. China
| | - Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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11
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Handschuh‐Wang S, Rauf M, Gan T, Shang W, Zhou X. On the Interaction of Surfactants with Gallium‐Based Liquid Metals. ChemistrySelect 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202103343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Handschuh‐Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
- The International School of Advanced Materials School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 China
| | - Muhammad Rauf
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
| | - Tiansheng Gan
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
| | - Wenhui Shang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
| | - Xuechang Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
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12
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Liao J, Majidi C. Soft actuators by electrochemical oxidation of liquid metal surfaces. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:1921-1928. [PMID: 33427274 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01851a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The surface energy of liquid metals can be electrochemically controlled over a wide range of values - from near zero to 500 mJ m-2- using a low voltage potential (∼1 V). This enables the ability to create soft-matter actuators that exhibit a high work density on small scales. We demonstrate that a liquid metal (LM) meniscus wetted between two copper pads can function as an electrochemical soft actuator whose force and shape are controllable by tuning the LM surface energy. Energy minimization models are presented in order to predict the actuator performance as a function of LM droplet and Cu pad dimensions. The results suggest that the electrochemical LM actuator has a unique combination of high work density, biologically-relevant activation frequency, and low operational voltage that stands out from other classes of soft-matter actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahe Liao
- The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Carmel Majidi
- The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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13
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Fang Y, Meng L, Prominski A, Schaumann E, Seebald M, Tian B. Recent advances in bioelectronics chemistry. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:7978-8035. [PMID: 32672777 PMCID: PMC7674226 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00333f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Research in bioelectronics is highly interdisciplinary, with many new developments being based on techniques from across the physical and life sciences. Advances in our understanding of the fundamental chemistry underlying the materials used in bioelectronic applications have been a crucial component of many recent discoveries. In this review, we highlight ways in which a chemistry-oriented perspective may facilitate novel and deep insights into both the fundamental scientific understanding and the design of materials, which can in turn tune the functionality and biocompatibility of bioelectronic devices. We provide an in-depth examination of several developments in the field, organized by the chemical properties of the materials. We conclude by surveying how some of the latest major topics of chemical research may be further integrated with bioelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Fang
- The James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Lingyuan Meng
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | | | - Erik Schaumann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Matthew Seebald
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Bozhi Tian
- The James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- The Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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14
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Toyota T, Sugiyama H, Hiroi S, Ito H, Kitahata H. Chemically artificial rovers based on self-propelled droplets in micrometer-scale environment. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2020.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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15
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Zhu L, Wang B, Handschuh-Wang S, Zhou X. Liquid Metal-Based Soft Microfluidics. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903841. [PMID: 31573755 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Motivated by the increasing demand of wearable and soft electronics, liquid metal (LM)-based microfluidics has been subjected to tremendous development in the past decade, especially in electronics, robotics, and related fields, due to the unique advantages of LMs that combines the conductivity and deformability all-in-one. LMs can be integrated as the core component into microfluidic systems in the form of either droplets/marbles or composites embedded by polymer materials with isotropic and anisotropic distribution. The LM microfluidic systems are found to have broad applications in deformable antennas, soft diodes, biomedical sensing chips, transient circuits, mechanically adaptive materials, etc. Herein, the recent progress in the development of LM-based microfluidics and their potential applications are summarized. The current challenges toward industrial applications and future research orientation of this field are also summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifei Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, P. R. China
- Guangdong Laboratory of ArtificialIntelligence and Digital Economy (SZ), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, P. R. China
| | - Ben Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Stephan Handschuh-Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, P. R. China
| | - Xuechang Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, P. R. China
- Guangdong Laboratory of ArtificialIntelligence and Digital Economy (SZ), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, P. R. China
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16
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Jin SW, Jeong YR, Park H, Keum K, Lee G, Lee YH, Lee H, Kim MS, Ha JS. A Flexible Loudspeaker Using the Movement of Liquid Metal Induced by Electrochemically Controlled Interfacial Tension. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1905263. [PMID: 31762183 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201905263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A flexible liquid metal loudspeaker (LML) is demonstrated consisting of a gallium-based eutectic liquid metal (Galinstan) and basic aqueous electrolyte (NaOH(aq) ). The LML is driven by liquid metal motion induced by the electrochemically controlled interfacial tension of the Galinstan in NaOH(aq) electrolyte under an applied alternating current (AC) voltage. The fabricated LML produces sound waves in the human audible frequency band with a sound pressure level of ≈40-50 dB at 1 cm from the device and exhibits mechanical stability under bending deformation with a bending radius of 3 mm. Various sounds can be generated with the LML from a single tone to piano notes and human voices. To understand the underlying mechanism of sound generation by the LML, motion analyses, sound measurements, and electrical characterization are conducted at various frequencies. For the first time, this work suggests a new type of liquid metal-based electrochemically driven sound generator in the field of flexible acoustic devices that can be applied to future wearable electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Woo Jin
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Ra Jeong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Heun Park
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Kayeon Keum
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Geumbee Lee
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Hui Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanchan Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Su Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Sook Ha
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
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17
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Chen S, Yang X, Wang H, Wang R, Liu J. Al-assisted high frequency self-powered oscillations of liquid metal droplets. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:8971-8975. [PMID: 31603451 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01899a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
It is of great scientific and practical significance to explore and imitate the rhythmic oscillating behaviors. Achieving oscillating behaviours via liquid metal is regarded as an excellent strategy and the "mercury beating heart" is a well-known representative. However, the oscillating behaviours achieved over the past few decades either require external power supply or exhibit low frequency. Here, intriguing Al-assisted high frequency self-powered oscillations of liquid metal droplets were discovered and the general mechanisms were interpreted. For this dynamic process, Al is added into the liquid metal for generating gas and activating liquid metal by forming countless tiny galvanic cells and an iron plate is used to passivate the liquid metal via electrochemical oxidation. Therefore, the high frequency self-fueled oscillations can be achieved due to the synergistic effect of these two factors. Furthermore, we predict and confirm that the oscillating behaviors can also be achieved on other eligible substrates (e.g., Ni plate) based on the proposed universal mechanism. The ability to achieve high frequency oscillations of liquid metal droplets promises rich opportunities in developing self-powered soft oscillators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Chen
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China and Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xiaohu Yang
- Science and Technology on Thermal Energy and Power Laboratory, Wuhan Second Ship Design and Research Institute, Wuhan 430205, China
| | - Hongzhang Wang
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ronghang Wang
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China and Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China and Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Beijing 100190, China and School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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18
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A bioinspired optoelectronically engineered artificial neurorobotics device with sensorimotor functionalities. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3873. [PMID: 31455784 PMCID: PMC6712026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11823-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of the next generation of bio- and nano-electronics is inseparably connected to the innovative concept of emulation and reproduction of biological sensorimotor systems and artificial neurobotics. Here, we report for the first time principally new artificial bioinspired optoelectronic sensorimotor system for the controlable immitation of opto-genetically engineered neurons in the biological motor system. The device is based on inorganic optical synapse (In-doped TiO2 nanofilm) assembled into a liquid metal (galinstan) actuator. The optoelectronic synapse generates polarised excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials to trigger the liquid metal droplet to vibrate and then mimic the expansion and contraction of biological fibre muscle. The low-energy consumption and precise modulation of electrical and mechanical outputs are the distinguished characteristics of fabricated sensorimotor system. This work is the underlying significant step towards the development of next generation of low-energy the internet of things for bioinspired neurorobotic and bioelectronic system.
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19
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Oloye O, Tang C, Du A, Will G, O'Mullane AP. Galvanic replacement of liquid metal galinstan with Pt for the synthesis of electrocatalytically active nanomaterials. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:9705-9715. [PMID: 31066435 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr02458a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The galvanic replacement reaction is a verstile method for the fabrication of bimetallic nanomaterials which is usually limited to solid precursors. Here we report on the galvanic replacement of liquid metal galinstan with Pt which predominantly results in the formation of a Pt5Ga1 material. During the galvanic replacement process an interesting phenomenon was observed whereby a plume of nanomaterial is ejected upwards from the centre of the liquid metal droplet into solution which is due to surface tension gradients on the liquid metal surface that induces surface convection. It was also found that hydrogen gas was liberated during the process facilitated by the formation of the Pt rich nanomaterial which is a highly effective catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The material was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and dynamic light scattering measurements. It was found that Pt5Ga1 was highly effective for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol and ethanol and outperformed a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Density functional theory calculations confirmed that the increased activity is due to the anti poisoning properties of the surface towards CO upon the incorporation of Ga atoms into a Pt catalyst. The use of liquid metals and galvanic replacement offers a simple approach to fabricating Ga based alloy nanomaterials that may have use in many other types of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olawale Oloye
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.
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20
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Abstract
Flexible sensors have the potential to be seamlessly applied to soft and irregularly shaped surfaces such as the human skin or textile fabrics. This benefits conformability dependant applications including smart tattoos, artificial skins and soft robotics. Consequently, materials and structures for innovative flexible sensors, as well as their integration into systems, continue to be in the spotlight of research. This review outlines the current state of flexible sensor technologies and the impact of material developments on this field. Special attention is given to strain, temperature, chemical, light and electropotential sensors, as well as their respective applications.
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21
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Rotation of Liquid Metal Droplets Solely Driven by the Action of Magnetic Fields. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9071421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The self-rotation of liquid metal droplets (LMDs) has garnered potential for numerous applications, such as chip cooling, fluid mixture, and robotics. However, the controllable self-rotation of LMDs utilizing magnetic fields is still underexplored. Here, we report a novel method to induce self-rotation of LMDs solely utilizing a rotating magnetic field. This is achieved by rotating a pair of permanent magnets around a LMD located at the magnetic field center. The LMD experiences Lorenz force generated by the relative motion between the droplet and the permanent magnets and can be rotated. Remarkably, unlike the actuation induced by electrochemistry, the rotational motion of the droplet induced by magnetic fields avoids the generation of gas bubbles and behaves smoothly and steadily. We investigate the main parameters that affect the self-rotational behaviors of LMDs and validate the theory of this approach. We further demonstrate the ability of accelerating cooling and a mixer enabled by the self-rotation of a LMD. We believe that the presented technique can be conveniently adapted by other systems after necessary modifications and enables new progress in microfluidics, microelectromechanical (MEMS) applications, and micro robotics.
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22
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Huang J, Liu S, Peng Z, Shao Z, Zhang Y, Dong H, Zheng M, Xiao Y, Liu Y. Rich N/O/S co-doped porous carbon with a high surface area from silkworm cocoons for superior supercapacitors. NEW J CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9nj04195h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The synergistic effects of high surface area and abundant heteroatoms make porous carbons superior electrode materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Huang
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
| | - Simin Liu
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
| | - Zifang Peng
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
| | - Zhuoxian Shao
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
| | - Hanwu Dong
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
| | - Mingtao Zheng
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
| | - Yong Xiao
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
| | - Yingliang Liu
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- P. R. China
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23
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Shu J, Tang SY, Feng Z, Li W, Li X, Zhang S. Unconventional locomotion of liquid metal droplets driven by magnetic fields. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:7113-7118. [PMID: 30182111 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01281d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The locomotion of liquid metal droplets enables enormous potential for realizing various applications in microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs), biomimetics, and microfluidics. However, current techniques for actuating liquid metal droplets are either associated with intense electrochemical reactions or require modification of their physical properties by coating/mixing them with other materials. These methods either generate gas bubbles or compromise the stability and liquidity of the liquid metal. Here, we introduce an innovative method for controlling the locomotion of liquid metal droplets using Lorentz force induced by magnetic fields. Remarkably, utilizing a magnetic field to induce actuation avoids the generation of gas bubbles in comparison to the method of forming a surface tension gradient on the liquid metal using electrochemistry. In addition, the use of Lorentz force avoids the need of mixing liquid metals with ferromagnetic materials, which may compromise the liquidity of liquid metals. Most importantly, we discover that the existence of a slip layer for liquid metal droplets distinguishes their actuation behaviors from solid metallic spheres. We investigate the parameters affecting the actuation behavior of liquid metal droplets and explore the science behind its operation. We further conducted a series of proof-of-concept experiments to verify the controllability of our method for actuating liquid metal droplets. As such, we believe that the presented technique represents a significant advance in comparison to reported actuation methods for liquid metals, and possesses the potential to be readily adapted by other systems to advance the fields of MEMS actuation and soft robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Shu
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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24
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Yu Z, Chen Y, Yun FF, Cortie D, Jiang L, Wang X. Discovery of a Voltage-Stimulated Heartbeat Effect in Droplets of Liquid Gallium. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 121:024302. [PMID: 30085744 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.121.024302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Chemomechanical effects are known to initiate fluid oscillations in certain liquid metals; however, they typically produce an irregular motion that is difficult to deactivate or control. Here we show that stimulating liquid gallium with electrochemistry can cause a metal drop to exhibit a heart beating effect by shape shifting at a telltale frequency. Unlike the effects reported in the past for mercury, the symmetry-breaking forces generated by using gallium propel the drop several millimeters with velocities of the order of 1 cm per second. We demonstrate pulsating dynamics between 0 and 610 beats per minute for 50-150 μL droplets in a NaOH electrolyte at 34 °C. The underlying mechanism is a self-regulating cycle initiated by fast electrochemical oxidation that adjusts the drop's surface tension and causes a transformation from spherical to pancake form, followed by detachment from the circular electrode. As the beat frequency can be activated and controlled using a dc voltage, the electrochemical mechanism opens the way for fluid-based timers and actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenwei Yu
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, Australia
| | - Yuchen Chen
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, Australia
| | - Frank F Yun
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, Australia
| | - David Cortie
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, Australia
| | - Lei Jiang
- Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, Australia
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25
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Chen S, Yang X, Cui Y, Liu J. Self-Growing and Serpentine Locomotion of Liquid Metal Induced by Copper Ions. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:22889-22895. [PMID: 29932328 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b07649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The realization of serpentine locomotion has been a core goal pursued. Here, a straightforward approach was discovered to generate the serpentine locomotion based on a brand-new phenomenon observed on liquid metal (Ga67In21Sn12). The dynamic process that liquid metal can automatically produce and move like tremendous slim snakes was revealed and the underlying mechanisms were clarified and interpreted. It was found that the self-growing serpentine locomotion of liquid metal is driven by the localized surface pressure difference related to the unbalanced surface tension. The present work offers new insight and forms in developing future autonomous soft systems and bionic multifunctional robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Chen
- 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
| | - Xiaohu Yang
- 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
| | - Yuntao Cui
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Jing Liu
- 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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26
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Lertanantawong B, Riches JD, O'Mullane AP. Room Temperature Electrochemical Synthesis of Crystalline GaOOH Nanoparticles from Expanding Liquid Metals. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:7604-7611. [PMID: 29871489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Gallium oxyhydroxide (GaOOH) is a wide band gap semiconductor of interest for a variety of applications in electronics and catalysis where the synthesis of the crystalline form is usually achieved via hydrothermal routes. Here we synthesize GaOOH via the electrochemical oxidation of gallium based liquid metals in solutions of 0.1 M NaNO3 electrolyte with pH adjusted over the range of 7-8.4 with NaOH. This electrochemical approach employed under ambient conditions results in the formation of crystalline oblong shaped α-GaOOH nanoparticles from both liquid gallium and liquid galinstan which is a eutectic based on Ga, In, and Sn. The size and shape of the GaOOH particles could be controlled by the solution pH. The product is characterized with scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. During the electrochemical oxidation process, the liquid metal drop was found to expand significantly in the case of galinstan due to a constant electrowetting effect which resulted in the continuous expulsion of nanomaterial from the expanding liquid metal droplet. This electrochemical approach may be applicable to other liquid metals for the fabrication of metal oxide nanomaterials and also demonstrates that significant chemical reactions may be occurring at the surface of liquid metals that are actuated under an applied electric field in aqueous electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benchaporn Lertanantawong
- Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Graduate Program , King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi , Bangkok 10150 , Thailand
| | - Jamie D Riches
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering , Queensland University of Technology (QUT) , Brisbane , QLD 4001 , Australia
- Institute for Future Environments , Queensland University of Technology (QUT) , Brisbane , QLD 4001 , Australia
| | - Anthony P O'Mullane
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering , Queensland University of Technology (QUT) , Brisbane , QLD 4001 , Australia
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27
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Daeneke T, Khoshmanesh K, Mahmood N, de Castro IA, Esrafilzadeh D, Barrow SJ, Dickey MD, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Liquid metals: fundamentals and applications in chemistry. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:4073-4111. [PMID: 29611563 DOI: 10.1039/c7cs00043j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 350] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Post-transition elements, together with zinc-group metals and their alloys belong to an emerging class of materials with fascinating characteristics originating from their simultaneous metallic and liquid natures. These metals and alloys are characterised by having low melting points (i.e. between room temperature and 300 °C), making their liquid state accessible to practical applications in various fields of physical chemistry and synthesis. These materials can offer extraordinary capabilities in the synthesis of new materials, catalysis and can also enable novel applications including microfluidics, flexible electronics and drug delivery. However, surprisingly liquid metals have been somewhat neglected by the wider research community. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals underlying liquid metal research, including liquid metal synthesis, surface functionalisation and liquid metal enabled chemistry. Furthermore, we discuss phenomena that warrant further investigations in relevant fields and outline how liquid metals can contribute to exciting future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Daeneke
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - K Khoshmanesh
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - N Mahmood
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - I A de Castro
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - D Esrafilzadeh
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - S J Barrow
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - M D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA
| | - K Kalantar-Zadeh
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Australia.
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28
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Yu Y, Miyako E. Alternating-Magnetic-Field-Mediated Wireless Manipulations of a Liquid Metal for Therapeutic Bioengineering. iScience 2018; 3:134-148. [PMID: 30428316 PMCID: PMC6137341 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
As emergent multifunctional materials, room temperature liquid metals (LMs) display many unique properties. Here we show that applying an external alternating magnetic field (AMF) to an LM induces various physical phenomena, such as exothermic behavior, controlled locomotion, electromagnetic levitation, and transformations of the LMs between different morphologies and configurations, in a non-contact manner. Additional interesting therapeutic bioengineering applications of LMs demonstrated herein include in vitro and in vivo effective cancer magnetic hyperthermia via wireless AMF, remote manipulation of a pill-shaped microdevice based on an LM/hydrogel composite, and spatiotemporal controlled release of drug molecules from the microdevice. Overall, as an innovative therapeutic bioengineering technology, this platform and the described performance traits of LMs enable the development of biocompatible smart devices with a wide range of dynamic components that can be wirelessly controlled in a manner that solves issues related to the powering of devices and biocompatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- Department of Materials and Chemistry, Nanomaterials Research Institute (NMRI), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Eijiro Miyako
- Department of Materials and Chemistry, Nanomaterials Research Institute (NMRI), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
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29
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Cui Y, Liang F, Yang Z, Xu S, Zhao X, Ding Y, Lin Z, Liu J. Metallic Bond-Enabled Wetting Behavior at the Liquid Ga/CuGa 2 Interfaces. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:9203-9210. [PMID: 29510039 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Interface interaction can strongly modify contact angle, adsorption energy, interfacial tension, and composition of the contact area. In particular, the interfaces between gallium-based liquid metal (LM) and its intermetallic layer present many mysterious and peculiar wetting phenomena, which have not been fully realized up to now. Here in this study, we found that a gallium-based liquid metal droplet can quickly transform into a puddle on the CuGa2 surface through a spreading-wetting procedure. The mechanism lying behind this phenomenon can be ascribed to the formation of an intermetallic CuGa2 on Cu plate surface, which provides a stable metallic bond to induce the wetting behavior. For a quantitative evaluation of the interface force, a metallic bond-enabled wetting model is established on the basis of the density functional theory. The first-principles density functional calculations are then performed to examine the work function, density of states, and adsorption energy. The predicted results show that the work function of CuGa2 (010) is approximately 4.47 eV, which is very comparable with that of pure liquid Ga (4.32 eV). This indicates that the valence electrons between Ga and CuGa2 slab can exchange easily, which consequently leads to the strong valence electron hybridization and metallic bond. In addition, the adsorption energy of a single Ga atom on CuGa2 (010) slab has a larger value than In and Sn. The tested metallic bond wetting force at the interface is proportional to the average adsorption energy of the gallium-based LM adatom, and increases with the rising content of gallium. The simulation results demonstrate excellent consistency with the experimental data in this work.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhenze Yang
- School of Future Technology , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Shuo Xu
- School of Future Technology , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Xi Zhao
- School of Future Technology , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Yujie Ding
- School of Future Technology , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | | | - Jing Liu
- 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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Zhu JY, Thurgood P, Nguyen N, Ghorbani K, Khoshmanesh K. Customised spatiotemporal temperature gradients created by a liquid metal enabled vortex generator. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:3862-3873. [PMID: 29034403 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00898h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Generating customised temperature gradients in miniaturised flow-free liquid chambers is challenging due to the dominance of diffusion. Inducing internal flows in the form of vortices is an effective strategy for overcoming the limitations of diffusion in such environments. Vortices can be produced by applying pressure, temperature and electric potential gradients via miniaturised actuators. However, the difficulties associated with the fabrication, integration, maintenance and operation of such actuators hinder their utility. Here, we utilise liquid metal enabled pumps to induce vortices inside a miniaturised liquid chamber. The configuration and rotational velocity of these vortices can be controlled by tuning the polarity and frequency of the energising electrical signal. This allows creation of customised spatial temperature gradients inside the chamber. The absence of conventional moving elements in the pumps facilitates the rapid reconfiguration of vortices. This enables quick transition from one temperature profile to another, and creates customised spatiotemporal temperature gradients. This allows temperature oscillation from 35 to 62 °C at the hot spot, and from 25 to 27 °C at the centre of the vortex within 15 seconds. Our liquid metal enabled vortex generator can be fabricated, integrated and operated easily, and offers opportunities for studying thermo-responsive materials and biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiu Yang Zhu
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.
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31
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Eaker CB, Hight DC, O'Regan JD, Dickey MD, Daniels KE. Oxidation-Mediated Fingering in Liquid Metals. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 119:174502. [PMID: 29219460 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.119.174502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We identify and characterize a new class of fingering instabilities in liquid metals; these instabilities are unexpected due to the large interfacial tension of metals. Electrochemical oxidation lowers the effective interfacial tension of a gallium-based liquid metal alloy to values approaching zero, thereby inducing drastic shape changes, including the formation of fractals. The measured fractal dimension (D=1.3±0.05) places the instability in a different universality class than other fingering instabilities. By characterizing changes in morphology and dynamics as a function of droplet volume and applied electric potential, we identify the three main forces involved in this process: interfacial tension, gravity, and oxidative stress. Importantly, we find that electrochemical oxidation can generate compressive interfacial forces that oppose the tensile forces at a liquid interface. The surface oxide layer ultimately provides a physical and electrochemical barrier that halts the instabilities at larger positive potentials. Controlling the competition between interfacial tension and oxidative (compressive) stresses at the interface is important for the development of reconfigurable electronic, electromagnetic, and optical devices that take advantage of the metallic properties of liquid metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin B Eaker
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - David C Hight
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - John D O'Regan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karen E Daniels
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
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32
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Yu Y, Miyako E. Manipulation of Biomolecule-Modified Liquid-Metal Blobs. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:13606-13611. [PMID: 28879671 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201705996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Soft and deformable liquid metals (LMs) are building components in various systems related to uncertain and dynamic task environments. Herein we describe the development of a biomolecule-triggered external-manipulation method involving LM conjugates for the construction of future innovative soft robotics operating in physiological environments. Functional soft hybrids composed of a liquid-metal droplet, a thiolated ligand, and proteins were synthesized for the expression of diverse macroscopic commands, such as attachment to cells, binary fusion, and self-propelled movement through molecular recognition and enzymatic reactions. Our technology could be used to create new state-of-the-art soft robots for chemical and biomedical engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- Department of Materials and Chemistry, Nanomaterials Research Institute (NMRI), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Eijiro Miyako
- Department of Materials and Chemistry, Nanomaterials Research Institute (NMRI), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, 305-8565, Japan
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33
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- Department of Materials and Chemistry; Nanomaterials Research Institute (NMRI); National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST); Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi Tsukuba 305-8565 Japan
| | - Eijiro Miyako
- Department of Materials and Chemistry; Nanomaterials Research Institute (NMRI); National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST); Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi Tsukuba 305-8565 Japan
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Lin Y, Gordon O, Khan MR, Vasquez N, Genzer J, Dickey MD. Vacuum filling of complex microchannels with liquid metal. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:3043-3050. [PMID: 28805880 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00426e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the utilization of vacuum to fill complex microchannels with liquid metal. Microchannels filled with liquid metal are useful as conductors for soft and stretchable electronics, as well as for microfluidic components such as electrodes, antennas, pumps, or heaters. Liquid metals are often injected manually into the inlet of a microchannel using a syringe. Injection can only occur if displaced air in the channels has a pathway to escape, which is usually accomplished using outlets. The positive pressure (relative to atmosphere) needed to inject fluids can also cause leaks or delamination of the channels during injection. Here we show a simple and hands-free method to fill microchannels with liquid metal that addresses these issues. The process begins by covering a single inlet with liquid metal. Placing the entire structure in a vacuum chamber removes the air from the channels and the surrounding elastomer. Restoring atmospheric pressure in the chamber creates a positive pressure differential that pushes the metal into the channels. Experiments and a simple model of the filling process both suggest that the elastomeric channel walls absorb residual air displaced by the metal as it fills the channels. Thus, the metal can fill dead-ends with features as small as several microns and branched structures within seconds without the need for any outlets. The method can also fill completely serpentine microchannels up to a few meters in length. The ability to fill dense and complex geometries with liquid metal in this manner may enable broader application of liquid metals in electronic and microfluidic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiliang Lin
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA.
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35
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Hu L, Yuan B, Liu J. Liquid metal amoeba with spontaneous pseudopodia formation and motion capability. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7256. [PMID: 28775347 PMCID: PMC5543163 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07678-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique motion of amoeba with a deformable body has long been an intriguing issue in scientific fields ranging from physics, bionics to mechanics. So far, most of the currently available artificial machines are still hard to achieve the complicated amoeba-like behaviors including stretching pseudopodia. Here through introducing a multi-materials system, we discovered a group of very unusual biomimetic amoeba-like behaviors of self-fueled liquid gallium alloy on the graphite surface immersed in alkaline solution. The underlying mechanisms were discovered to be the surface tension variations across the liquid metal droplet through its simultaneous electrochemical interactions with aluminum and graphite in the NaOH electrolyte. This finding would shed light on the packing and the structural design of future soft robots owning diverse deformation capability. Moreover, this study related the physical transformation of a non-living LM droplet to the life behavior of amoeba in nature, which is inspiring in human's pursuit of advanced biomimetic machine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Hu
- 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
| | - Bin Yuan
- 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
| | - 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.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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36
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Dickey MD. Stretchable and Soft Electronics using Liquid Metals. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1606425. [PMID: 28417536 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201606425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 536] [Impact Index Per Article: 76.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The use of liquid metals based on gallium for soft and stretchable electronics is discussed. This emerging class of electronics is motivated, in part, by the new opportunities that arise from devices that have mechanical properties similar to those encountered in the human experience, such as skin, tissue, textiles, and clothing. These types of electronics (e.g., wearable or implantable electronics, sensors for soft robotics, e-skin) must operate during deformation. Liquid metals are compelling materials for these applications because, in principle, they are infinitely deformable while retaining metallic conductivity. Liquid metals have been used for stretchable wires and interconnects, reconfigurable antennas, soft sensors, self-healing circuits, and conformal electrodes. In contrast to Hg, liquid metals based on gallium have low toxicity and essentially no vapor pressure and are therefore considered safe to handle. Whereas most liquids bead up to minimize surface energy, the presence of a surface oxide on these metals makes it possible to pattern them into useful shapes using a variety of techniques, including fluidic injection and 3D printing. In addition to forming excellent conductors, these metals can be used actively to form memory devices, sensors, and diodes that are completely built from soft materials. The properties of these materials, their applications within soft and stretchable electronics, and future opportunities and challenges are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
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37
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Hu L, Li J, Tang J, Liu J. Surface effects of liquid metal amoeba. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2017; 62:700-706. [PMID: 36659441 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metals (LM) such as eutectic gallium-indium and gallium-indium-tin are important functional liquid-state metal materials with many unique properties, which have attracted wide attentions especially from soft robot area. Recently the amoeba-like transformations of LM on the graphite surface are discovered, which present a promising future for the design and assemble of self-fueled actuators with dendritically deformable body. It appears that the surface tension of the LM can be significantly reduced when it contacts graphite surface in alkaline solution. Clearly, the specific surface should play a vital role in inducing these intriguing behaviors, which is valuable and inspiring in soft robot design. However, the information regarding varied materials functions underlying these behaviors remains unknown. To explore the generalized effects of surface materials in those intriguing behavior, several materials including glass, graphite, nickel and copper oxides (CuO) were comparatively investigated as substrate surfaces. Important results were obtained that only LM amoeba transformations were observed on graphite and CuO surfaces. In order to identify the proper surface condition for LM transformation, the intrinsic properties of substrate surfaces, such as the surface charge and roughness, as well as the specific interaction with LM like wetting behavior and mutual locomotion etc., were characterized. The integrated results revealed that LM droplet appears more likely to deform on surfaces with higher positive surface charge density, higher roughness and less bubble generation on them. In addition, another surface material, CuOx, is identified to own similar ability to graphite, which is valuable in achieving amoeba-like transformation. Moreover, this study offers a fundamental understanding of the surface properties in realizing LM amoeba transformations, which would shed light on packing and structure design of liquid metal-based soft device within multi-material system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jing Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jianbo Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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38
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Paolella A, Faure C, Bertoni G, Marras S, Guerfi A, Darwiche A, Hovington P, Commarieu B, Wang Z, Prato M, Colombo M, Monaco S, Zhu W, Feng Z, Vijh A, George C, Demopoulos GP, Armand M, Zaghib K. Light-assisted delithiation of lithium iron phosphate nanocrystals towards photo-rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14643. [PMID: 28393912 PMCID: PMC5394232 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, intensive efforts are dedicated to convert and store the solar energy in a single device. Herein, dye-synthesized solar cell technology is combined with lithium-ion materials to investigate light-assisted battery charging. In particular we report the direct photo-oxidation of lithium iron phosphate nanocrystals in the presence of a dye as a hybrid photo-cathode in a two-electrode system, with lithium metal as anode and lithium hexafluorophosphate in carbonate-based electrolyte; a configuration corresponding to lithium ion battery charging. Dye-sensitization generates electron-hole pairs with the holes aiding the delithiation of lithium iron phosphate at the cathode and electrons utilized in the formation of a solid electrolyte interface at the anode via oxygen reduction. Lithium iron phosphate acts effectively as a reversible redox agent for the regeneration of the dye. Our findings provide possibilities in advancing the design principles for photo-rechargeable lithium ion batteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Paolella
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1.,Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Wong Building, 3610 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A OC5
| | - Cyril Faure
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
| | | | - Sergio Marras
- Nanochemistry Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16130 Genova, Italy
| | - Abdelbast Guerfi
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
| | - Ali Darwiche
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
| | - Pierre Hovington
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
| | - Basile Commarieu
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
| | - Zhuoran Wang
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Wong Building, 3610 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A OC5
| | - Mirko Prato
- Nanochemistry Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16130 Genova, Italy
| | - Massimo Colombo
- Nanochemistry Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16130 Genova, Italy
| | - Simone Monaco
- Nanochemistry Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16130 Genova, Italy
| | - Wen Zhu
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
| | - Zimin Feng
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
| | - Ashok Vijh
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
| | - Chandramohan George
- Institute for Manufacturing, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, 17 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, UK
| | - George P Demopoulos
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Wong Building, 3610 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A OC5
| | - Michel Armand
- Cicenergigune Parque Tecnologico C/Albert Einstein 48 CP, 01510 Minano (Alava), Spain
| | - Karim Zaghib
- Institute de Recherche d-Hydro-Québec (IREQ), 1800 Boulevard Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebec, Canada J3X 1S1
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39
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Hines L, Petersen K, Lum GZ, Sitti M. Soft Actuators for Small-Scale Robotics. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1603483. [PMID: 28032926 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201603483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 499] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
This review comprises a detailed survey of ongoing methodologies for soft actuators, highlighting approaches suitable for nanometer- to centimeter-scale robotic applications. Soft robots present a special design challenge in that their actuation and sensing mechanisms are often highly integrated with the robot body and overall functionality. When less than a centimeter, they belong to an even more special subcategory of robots or devices, in that they often lack on-board power, sensing, computation, and control. Soft, active materials are particularly well suited for this task, with a wide range of stimulants and a number of impressive examples, demonstrating large deformations, high motion complexities, and varied multifunctionality. Recent research includes both the development of new materials and composites, as well as novel implementations leveraging the unique properties of soft materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Hines
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Guo Zhan Lum
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Metin Sitti
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
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40
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Tan SC, Yang XH, Gui H, Ding YJ, Wang L, Yuan B, Liu J. Galvanic corrosion couple-induced Marangoni flow of liquid metal. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:2309-2314. [PMID: 28255586 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm00071e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Marangoni flow of room temperature liquid metal has recently attracted significant attention in developing advanced flexible drivers. However, most of its induction methods are limited to an external electric field. This study disclosed a new Marangoni flow phenomenon of liquid gallium induced by the gallium-copper galvanic corrosion couple. To better understand this effect, the flow field distribution of liquid gallium was modeled and quantitatively calculated. Then, the intrinsic mechanism of this flow phenomenon was interpreted, during which natural convection and temperature gradient were both excluded and the galvanic corrosion couple was identified as the main reason. In addition, this conclusion was further confirmed by combining the experimental measurement of liquid gallium surface potential and the thermocapillary effect. Moreover, the temperature condition was found to be an indirect factor to the Marangoni flow. This finding broadens the classical understanding of liquid metal surface flow, which also suggests a new way for the application of soft machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Cong Tan
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engeering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Xiao-Hu Yang
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engeering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Han Gui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yu-Jie Ding
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engeering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Lei Wang
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engeering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Bin Yuan
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engeering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engeering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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41
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Wang J, Zheng B, Xiao J, Liu X, Ji H, Du J, Guo Y, Xiao D. Self-driven mercury motor via redox reaction in acid solution. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ra04574c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The phenomenon of self-driven motion of mercury drop was found for the first time in NaIO4/H2SO4 solution, which is based on the electrons transfer from aluminum to mercury by redox reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Wang
- College of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- China
| | | | - Jinlan Xiao
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu 610064
- China
| | - Xiaoling Liu
- College of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- China
| | - Hongyun Ji
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu 610064
- China
| | - Juan Du
- College of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- China
| | - Yong Guo
- College of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- China
| | - Dan Xiao
- College of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- China
- College of Chemical Engineering
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42
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Ghosh A, Nakanishi T. Frontiers of solvent-free functional molecular liquids. Chem Commun (Camb) 2017; 53:10344-10357. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cc05883g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The breakthrough of functional molecular liquids (FMLs) in cutting-edge research and their fundamental liquid features on the basis of molecular architectures are highlighted in this Feature Article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avijit Ghosh
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA)
- National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
- Tsukuba 305-0044
- Japan
| | - Takashi Nakanishi
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA)
- National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
- Tsukuba 305-0044
- Japan
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43
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Abstract
The deformation capability of a robot has been a long-term research interest in robotic fields along with developing its controllability and adaptability.
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Affiliation(s)
- You-you Yao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- School of Medicine
- Tsinghua University
- Beijing 100084
- PR China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- School of Medicine
- Tsinghua University
- Beijing 100084
- PR China
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44
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Ionic imbalance induced self-propulsion of liquid metals. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12402. [PMID: 27488954 PMCID: PMC4976217 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Components with self-propelling abilities are important building blocks of small autonomous systems and the characteristics of liquid metals are capable of fulfilling self-propulsion criteria. To date, there has been no exploration regarding the effect of electrolyte ionic content surrounding a liquid metal for symmetry breaking that generates motion. Here we show the controlled actuation of liquid metal droplets using only the ionic properties of the aqueous electrolyte. We demonstrate that pH or ionic concentration gradients across a liquid metal droplet induce both deformation and surface Marangoni flow. We show that the Lippmann dominated deformation results in maximum velocity for the self-propulsion of liquid metal droplets and illustrate several key applications, which take advantage of such electrolyte-induced motion. With this finding, it is possible to conceive the propulsion of small entities that are constructed and controlled entirely with fluids, progressing towards more advanced soft systems.
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45
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Zhu JY, Tang SY, Khoshmanesh K, Ghorbani K. An Integrated Liquid Cooling System Based on Galinstan Liquid Metal Droplets. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:2173-80. [PMID: 26716607 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b10769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The continued miniaturization of electronic components demands integrated liquid cooling systems with minimized external connections and fabrication costs that can be implanted very close to localized hot spots. This might be challenging for existing liquid cooling systems because most of them rely on external pumps, connecting tubes, and microfabricated heat sinks. Here, we demonstrate an integrated liquid cooling system by utilizing a small droplet of liquid metal Galinstan, which is placed over the hot spot. Energizing the liquid metal droplet with a square wave signal creates a surface tension gradient across the droplet, which induces Marangoni flow over the surface of droplet. This produces a high flow rate of coolant medium through the cooling channel, enabling a "soft" pump. At the same time, the high thermal conductivity of liquid metal extends the heat transfer surface and facilitates the dissipation of heat, enabling a "soft" heat sink. This facilitates the rapid cooling of localized hot spots, as demonstrated in our experiments. Our technology facilitates customized liquid cooling systems with simple fabrication and assembling processes, with no moving parts that can achieve high flow rates with low power consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiu Yang Zhu
- School of Engineering, RMIT University , Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Shi-Yang Tang
- School of Engineering, RMIT University , Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | | | - Kamran Ghorbani
- School of Engineering, RMIT University , Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
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