Liquid Metal Phagocytosis: Intermetallic Wetting Induced Particle Internalization

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomimetics

Background:

• Liquid metals, particularly gallium-based alloys, offer unique properties for advanced material processing.
• Developing methods for particle internalization in liquid metals is crucial for creating novel composites and functional materials.
• Understanding interfacial phenomena in multi-metallic systems is key to controlling material behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a novel biomimetic phenomenon in liquid metal enabling particle internalization.
• To establish liquid metal phagocytosis as a viable wet-processing strategy for creating liquid metal-particle mixtures.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms governing particle internalization in liquid metals.

Main Methods:

• Investigated particle internalization in gallium-based liquid metal across a full pH range.
• Introduced excitations including electrical polarization, dissolving media, and sacrificial metals.
• Analyzed the nonwetting-to-wetting transition and intermetallic wetting dynamics.
• Developed a theoretical model based on the macroscopic contact angle for predicting internalization behavior.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated liquid metal phagocytosis, a cellular-eating phenomenon, for particle internalization.
• Successfully prepared various metallic liquid metal-particle mixtures using different excitation methods.
• Identified surface transition and reactive intermetallic wetting as key drivers of the phagocytosis behavior.
• Validated the theoretical model, showing good consistency between predicted and experimental particle internalization.

Conclusions:

• Liquid metal phagocytosis is a robust strategy for particle internalization in diverse solutions.
• The phenomenon is governed by interfacial transitions and intermetallic reactions.
• A contact angle-based model accurately predicts particle internalization, offering a generalized interpretation.