Responsive Gallium-Based Liquid Metal Droplets: Attributes, Fabrication, Response Behaviors, and Applications
Source abstract
Abstract
Gallium (Ga)-based liquid metals (LMs), as an emerging functional material, stand out among many candidates due to their combination of fluidic and metallic attributes, and they have extensively attracted the attention of academic researchers. When fabricated into droplet form, these metals are imbued with many fantastic characteristics, such as a high specific surface area and self-healing properties. Additionally, Ga-based liquid metal droplets (LMDs) achieve higher response accuracy to external stimuli, satisfying the demands of many applications requiring micro-size and precise stimulus-responsivity. Herein, we focus on reviewing the properties of Ga-based LMs and their droplets, the fabrication strategies of metal droplets, their stimulus-response motion under different external fields, and their applications in microfluidic systems, biomedical applications, and micromachines. To further advance the development of responsive Ga-based LMDs, the future outlooks with key challenges related to their further applications are also presented here.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies · Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies · Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Mechtranoics Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihaer 161006, China
The Engineering Technology Research Center for Precision Manufacturing Equipment and Industrial Perception of Heilongjiang Province, Qiqihar University, Qiqihaer 161006, China
The Collaborative Innovation Center for Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Industrialization, Qiqihar University, Qiqihaer 161006, China
College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Funding
Heilongjiang Natural Science Foundation Project · Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by Heilongjiang Province · basic scientific research operating expenses project of Heilongjiang Province · Qiqihar University Graduate Student Innovation Research Project
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