Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Metallic Solids

Metallic Solids

Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability. Many...

Coagulation

Coagulation

Colloidal solids are solid particles suspended in solution. They are usually negatively charged, attracting a compact primary layer of positively charged ions, which attract more counterions to form an electrical double layer. Electrostatic repulsion between the charged double layers prevents the particles from colliding, stabilizing the colloids. These solids are often undesirable because they can contain toxins that are difficult to remove. Coagulation is a technique that helps aggregate and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Thermochemical Micro-Explosion for Prompt Thrombolysis via Proximal Injection of Liquid Alkali Metal.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

The BoMIEL1-BoMYB96 Module Responds to ABA Signals to Enhance the Drought Tolerance of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata).

Plant, cell & environment·2026

Same author

Corrigendum to "Integrated physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic analyses reveal changes in photosynthetic capacity of the endangered tree Cinnamomum chago under water stress" [Plant Physiol. Biochem. 234 (2026) 111349].

Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB·2026

Same author

Comprehensive Analysis of the TLP Gene Family in Pine and Functional Implications in Response to Pine Wood Nematode Infection.

Biology·2026

Same author

Porous bismuth-based liquid metal as multifunctional material.

iScience·2026

Same author

Physiological and cellular basis of inter-species variation in freeze tolerance between Bombyx mori and Antheraea pernyi.

Cryobiology·2026

Same journal

DNAzyme-Enhanced CRISPR/Cas12a Cascade Enables Isothermal, One-Pot RNA Diagnostics.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same journal

Continuous π-Conjugation in β-Ketoenamine Covalent Organic Frameworks Boosts Charge Transfer for Selective Photocatalysis.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same journal

Scalable Ionogel-Based Thermochromic Smart Windows: Enhanced Solar Regulation, Weatherability, and Processability.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same journal

Metal-Organic Framework Monoliths Derived from Emulsion-Templated Foams for Reactive Filtration.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same journal

Binary to Quaternary Rare-Earth Phosphates: Compositional Effects on Thermal Properties and CMAS Corrosion Resistance of Environmental Barrier Coatings.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same journal

Suture-Free Piezoelectric Band-Aid Membrane for Complex Peripheral Nerve Defects.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Fabricating Nanogaps by Nanoskiving

Fabricating Nanogaps by Nanoskiving

Published on: May 13, 2013

Liquid-Metal Molecular Scissors.

Liangfei Duan^1,2, Tong Zhou², Weihua Mu¹

¹School of Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

|January 12, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Liquid metals act as molecular scissors, directly removing oxygen groups from molecules at room temperature. This process enables the remaining molecular fragments to recombine into new functional materials, advancing molecular engineering.

Keywords:

directional clipping liquid-metal scissors molecular tools oxygen capture surface engineering

More Related Videos

A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation and Reduction

A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation and Reduction

Published on: January 26, 2016

Using Laser Scanning Microscopy to Determine Electromigration in Molybdenum Disilicide

Using Laser Scanning Microscopy to Determine Electromigration in Molybdenum Disilicide

Published on: May 23, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Fabricating Nanogaps by Nanoskiving

Fabricating Nanogaps by Nanoskiving

Published on: May 13, 2013

A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation and Reduction

A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation and Reduction

Published on: January 26, 2016

Using Laser Scanning Microscopy to Determine Electromigration in Molybdenum Disilicide

Using Laser Scanning Microscopy to Determine Electromigration in Molybdenum Disilicide

Published on: May 23, 2025

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Chemistry
Nanotechnology

Background:

Molecules are fundamental units of matter with properties determined by atomic composition, arrangement, and bonding.
Current molecular manipulation techniques often require specific conditions and lack versatility.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel method for directional molecular clipping and functional transformation using liquid metals.
To demonstrate the capability of liquid metals to cleave oxygen-containing groups from molecules at room temperature.

Main Methods:

Utilizing liquid metals, specifically gallium, to interact with molecular matter.
Observing the direct extraction of oxygen atoms from molecules like water (H2O) and methanol (CH3OH).
Analyzing the recombination of remaining molecular fragments into new chemical species.

Main Results:

Liquid metals effectively remove oxygen groups from H2O and CH3OH at room temperature, forming oxides.
H2O fragments recombine to produce hydrogen gas (H2).
CH3OH fragments yield H2, carbon materials, and carboxylates, demonstrating functional transformation.

Conclusions:

Liquid metals function as "molecular scissors" for precise molecular cleavage and recombination.
This discovery offers a new paradigm for creating functional materials and molecular weaving.
Potential applications span molecular chemical engineering, life sciences, energy, and biomedicine.