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Lightweight Bismuth-Based Liquid Metal Composite
Ju Wang1, Minghui Guo1, Weichen Feng2
1Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|November 24, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a lightweight bismuth-based liquid metal composite (BLMC) by adding hollow glass microspheres. This novel material significantly reduces density while retaining excellent conductivity and mechanical properties for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Metallurgy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Bismuth (Bi)-based liquid metals offer stable solid states and low-temperature transitions, simplifying handling.
- High density of conventional Bi-based liquid metals limits their use in weight-sensitive applications like wearables and implants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the density limitations of Bi-based liquid metals.
- To develop a lightweight Bi-based liquid metal composite (BLMC) with enhanced properties.
- To explore the potential of BLMC in various technological fields.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of hollow glass microspheres into a Bi-based liquid metal alloy.
- Characterization of the composite's density, electrical conductivity, thermal performance, and mechanical strength.
- Finite element modeling to analyze microscale interactions and heat transfer.
Main Results:
- Achieved a density reduction exceeding 50% in the BLMC.
- Maintained excellent electrical conductivity, thermal performance, and mechanical strength.
- Enhanced plasticity and tunable structural support due to the granular microstructure.
Conclusions:
- The developed BLMC offers a lightweight alternative to conventional Bi-based liquid metals.
- BLMC shows promise for applications in injectable bone cement, wearable device coatings, and shape-memory materials.
- This work expands the utility of Bi-based liquid metals for wearable and intelligent systems.
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