Moving liquid metal marbles

22-May-2013 - Australia

Researchers in Australia have found a new method to induce the controlled movement of liquid metal droplets in aqueous environments, by coating them in nanoparticles to form ‘liquid metal marbles.’

Research shows that coating droplets of liquid metal galinstan with WO3 nanoparticles increases the speed of movement of the droplet in an electrolyte solution on the application of DC voltage, compared to bare liquid metal galinstan droplets. The scientists also showed that movement of the ‘liquid metal marbles’ can be controlled by varying the density of the nanoparticle coating surface coverage, the type of nanoparticle coating, the size of the applied DC voltage and the pH of the electrolyte solution.

This new method for the controlled movement of liquid metals has possible applications in liquid phase electronics, including the assembly of multi-functional electro-mechanical superstructures.

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