Gallium Liquid Metal: Nanotoolbox for Antimicrobial Applications

ACS Nano, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17(15), P. 14406 - 14423

Published: July 28, 2023

The proliferation of drug resistance in microbial pathogens poses a significant threat to human health. Hence, treatment measures are essential surmount this growing problem. In context, liquid metal nanoparticles promising. Gallium, post-transition notable for being at physiological temperature, has drawn attention its distinctive properties, high antimicrobial efficacy, and low toxicity. Moreover, gallium demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties immune cells. Gallium can alloy with other metals be prepared various composites modify tailor characteristics functionality. More importantly, the bactericidal mechanism could sidestep emerging mechanisms. Building on rationale, gallium-based enable impactful innovative strategic pathways battle against resistance. This review outlines nanoscale their corresponding mechanisms provide comprehensive yet succinct overview current applications. addition, challenges opportunities that require further research efforts have been identified discussed.

Language: Английский

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Silver─Gallium Nano‐Amalgamated Particles as a Novel, Biocompatible Solution for Antibacterial Coatings

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 34(31)

Published: Nov. 5, 2023

Abstract Bacterial infections account for countless deaths globally. Antibiotics are the primary countermeasure; however, alarming spread of antibiotic‐resistant strains necessitates alternative solutions. Silver and silver compounds have emerged as promising antibacterial agents. However, issues related to cytotoxicity genotoxicity remain concern. To overcome these challenges, this proposes an easy‐to‐control straightforward method synthesize novel Silver─gallium (Ag─Ga) nano‐amalgamated particles. Gallium liquid metal (GaLM) is used facilitate galvanic deposition nanocrystals (Ag) on oxide layer. The GaLM not only serves a carrier through replacement process, but also provides controlled‐release mechanism silver, in way improving biocompatibility, reducing inflammation, stimulating bone growth. Notably, Ag─Ga suspensions can be conveniently deposited by spray‐coating range devices material surfaces, effectively eliminating pathogenic bacteria with efficacy comparable that ions. In vivo studies rat models affirm capabilities, especially against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus Escherichia coli , when placed implants such titanium rods magnesium discs. Furthermore, promotes matrix formation collagen growth without eliciting inflammatory response, indicating major promise coatings wide variety biomedical materials.

Language: Английский

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Liquid Metal‐Based Biosensors: Fundamentals and Applications

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(31)

Published: Jan. 23, 2024

Abstract Biosensors are analytical tools for monitoring various parameters related to living organisms, such as humans and plants. Liquid metals (LMs) have emerged a promising new material biosensing applications in recent years. LMs attractive physical chemical properties deformability, high thermal electrical conductivity, low volatility, viscosity. LM‐based biosensors represent strategy particularly wearable real‐time sensing. While early demonstrations of LM focus on strain, motion, temperature, examples show can be an excellent sensing biochemical biomolecular detection well. In this review, the progress personalized healthcare disease via both signaling is survey. It started with brief introduction fundamentals LMs, followed by discussion different mechanisms which transduce biological or physiological signals. Next, it reviewed example that been used real systems, ranging from on‐skin target‐specific detection. Finally, challenges future directions LM‐integrated biosensor platforms discussed.

Language: Английский

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The Liquid Metal Age: A Transition From Hg to Ga

Advanced Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 19, 2024

Abstract This review offers an illuminating journey through the historical evolution and modern‐day applications of liquid metals, presenting a comprehensive view their significance in diverse fields. Tracing trajectory from mercury to contemporary innovations, paper explores pivotal role industry research. The analysis spans electrical switches, mechanical applications, electrodes, chemical synthesis, energy storage, thermal transport, electronics, biomedicine. Each section examines intricacies metal integration, elucidating contributions technological advancements societal progress. Moreover, critically appraises challenges prospects inherent addressing issues recycling, corrosion management, device stability, economic feasibility, translational hurdles, market dynamics. By delving into these complexities, advances scholarly understanding actionable insights for researchers, engineers, policymakers. It aims catalyze innovation, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, promote metal‐enabled solutions needs. Through its forward‐looking perspective, this serves as guide navigating landscape bridging legacies with challenges, highlighting transformative potential metals shaping future technologies.

Language: Английский

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Sustainable Thermal Regulation of Electronics via Mitigated Supercooling of Porous Gallium‐Based Phase Change Materials

Advanced Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(23)

Published: April 18, 2024

Abstract Gallium liquid metal is one of the promising phase change materials for passive thermal management electronics due to their high conductivity and latent heat per volume. However, it suffers from severe supercooling, in which molten gallium does not return solid lack nucleation. It may require 28.2 °C lower temperature than original freezing point address leading unstable regulation performance along fluctuations cooling condition. Here, infused into porous copper an oxide‐free environment, forming intermetallic compound impurities at interfaces reduce activation energy heterogeneous The porous‐shaped provides ≈63% smaller supercooling that bulk type large specific surface area (≈9,070 cm 2 3 ) wetting characteristics (≈16° contact angle) on CuGa layer. During repetitive heating‐cooling cycles, consistently shows propagation crystallization even near room (≈25 °C) while maintaining stable as buffer, whereas droplet‐shaped gradually degraded partial‐supercooled state. findings will improve responsive relieve a rapid increase semiconductors/batteries, also have potential storage applications.

Language: Английский

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Synergistic effect in liquid metal heartbeat with high‐efficiency energy conversion

Droplet, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract The phenomenon of liquid metal “heartbeat” oscillation presents intriguing applications in microfluidic devices, drug delivery, and miniature robotics. However, achieving high vibrational kinetic energy outputs these systems remains challenging. In this study, we developed a graphite ring electrode with V‐shaped inner wall that enables wide‐ranging control over the performance based on droplet size height V‐shape. mechanism driving heartbeat is defined as dynamic process involving transformation oxide layer. Through electrochemical analysis, confirmed three distinct states introduced novel model to elucidate role structure initiating halting oscillations. A comprehensive series experiments explored how various factors, such volume, voltage, tilt angle, V‐shape height, affect performance, significant conversion from surface 4732 J m −2 s −1 . increase output attributed synergistic effect These results not only advance our understanding manipulation but also pave way for designing high‐speed pumping systems.

Language: Английский

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Gallium-based liquid metals as smart responsive materials: Morphological forms and stimuli characterization

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 329, P. 103183 - 103183

Published: May 16, 2024

Gallium-based liquid metals (GaLMs) have garnered monumental attention from the scientific community due to their diverse actuation characteristics. These possess remarkable characteristics, including high surface tension, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, phase transformation behaviour, minimal viscosity vapour pressure, lack of toxicity, biocompatibility. In addition, GaLMs melting points that are either lower or near room temperature, making them incredibly beneficial when compared solid since they can be easily deformed. Thus, there has been significant progress in developing multifunctional devices using GaLMs, bio-devices, flexible self-healing circuits, actuators. Despite numerous reports on these (LMs), is an urgent need for consolidated coherent literature regarding principles linked targeted application. This will ensure reader gets flavour physics behind mechanism how it utilized fields. Moreover, scattered literature, thus, primary motive this review provide a one-stop solution associated dynamics while directing readers specialized literature. addressing issue, we thoroughly examine present detailed account mechanisms highlighting science them. We also discuss various morphologies crucial physical characteristics which decide Furthermore, delve into commonly held beliefs about such as toxicity antibacterial properties, offer more accurate understanding. Finally, explored several key unanswered aspects LM should future research. The core strength lies its simplistic approach offering starting point researchers venturing innovative field, make use existing develop comprehensive

Language: Английский

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Gallium–Carbon: A Universal Composite for Sustainable 3D Printing of Integrated Sensor–Heater–Battery Systems in Wearable and Recyclable Electronics

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(25), P. 32812 - 32823

Published: June 15, 2024

This study presents a novel three-dimensional (3D) printable gallium-carbon black-styrene isoprene styrene block copolymer (Ga-CB-SIS), offering versatile solution for the rapid fabrication of stretchable and integrated sensor-heater-battery systems in wearable recyclable electronics. The composite exhibits sinter-free characteristics, allowing printing on various substrates, including heat-sensitive materials. Unlike traditional conductive inks, Ga-CB-SIS composite, composed gallium, carbon black, copolymers, combines electrical conductivity, stretchability, digital printability. By introducing black as filler material, achieves promising electromechanical behavior, making it suitable low-resistance heaters, batteries, interconnects. process involves simultaneous mixing ball-milling technique, resulting homogeneous composition with CB/Ga ratio 4.3%. showcases remarkable adaptability substrates. Its self-healing property efficient recycling technique using deep eutectic solvent contribute to an environmentally conscious approach electronic waste, high gallium recovery efficiency ∼98%. study's innovation extends applications, presenting fully digitally printed battery strain sensors representing significant leap LM-based composites. multifunctional sustainable emerges key player future electronics, circuits sensing, heating, energy storage elements.

Language: Английский

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A toolbox for investigating liquid metal systems

Cell Reports Physical Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(2), P. 101820 - 101820

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

The exceptional properties of liquid metals at room temperature, such as their fluidity, stretchability, deformability, and potential applications, have rapidly inspired the scientific community. At present, main challenge is overcoming technical barriers associated with characterization metal systems, which resulted in molecular structure remaining effectively unknown. This lack knowledge has significantly hampered progress emerging field chemistry, prohibiting tailored design relegating researchers to work by trial error. In recent years, several technological developments, including improved analytical tools, emerged that tackle current challenges. this review, we present a comprehensive appraisal various state-of-the-art techniques can help uncover answers long-standing questions domain metal-in-metal colloidal systems. We describe selected generic methodologies unique approaches capture changes physical chemical behavior molten presence internal external stimuli. combination, outlined tools will deepen our understanding chemistry accelerate research translation provide solutions areas catalysis, biomedicine, reconfigurable electronics.

Language: Английский

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Supercooling Effect in Miniature Gallium Phase Transition Cell

Advanced Engineering Materials, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 5, 2025

Miniature gallium fixed‐point cells are widely used as temperature standards and, because of their near‐ambient transition (29.7646 °C), in a variety applications for the accurate situ calibration thermometers traceable to international system units. A peculiarity gallium, compared other metal fixed‐points, is its high degree supercooling which can limit possible applications. However, literature, different authors observed suppression case small cells. The reason this not completely clear. In article, effect was investigated specific miniature designed space results show that function thermal history cell. As metal, liquid state, increased, linear dependence between overheating sample and observed. This relationship particularly important when cell must be perform subsequent cycles. An understanding factors govern supercooling, proposed study, could help develop ways control it, design systems, procedures

Language: Английский

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