<p>Gallium-based liquid metals are promising materials for fabricating polymer composites with electrical and thermal conductivities because of their intrinsic deformability and metallic properties. However, their high surface tension often prevents the easy preparation of uniformly dispersed composites. Herein, we propose the “powderization” method for the preparation of eutectic gallium–indium alloys by using a small-molecule dispersant, such as 1-dodecanethiol, affording powdery samples that can be treated like a solid-state powder. Mechanical shear forces can induce the recovery of the liquid metal bulk through the coalescence of microparticles in the powdery samples. Several types of polymer composites based on these powdered liquid metals are prepared simply by manual mixing and exhibit stimulus-responsive electrical conductivity and microwave heating.</p>

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Powderization of gallium-indium eutectic alloy with small-molecule surfactants for the simple preparation of liquid metal-polymer composites

  • Christopher Hiromi Shimamura,
  • Shunichiro Ito,
  • Kazuo Tanaka

摘要

Gallium-based liquid metals are promising materials for fabricating polymer composites with electrical and thermal conductivities because of their intrinsic deformability and metallic properties. However, their high surface tension often prevents the easy preparation of uniformly dispersed composites. Herein, we propose the “powderization” method for the preparation of eutectic gallium–indium alloys by using a small-molecule dispersant, such as 1-dodecanethiol, affording powdery samples that can be treated like a solid-state powder. Mechanical shear forces can induce the recovery of the liquid metal bulk through the coalescence of microparticles in the powdery samples. Several types of polymer composites based on these powdered liquid metals are prepared simply by manual mixing and exhibit stimulus-responsive electrical conductivity and microwave heating.