The ability to control interfacial tension electrochemically is uniquely available for liquid metals (LMs), in particular gallium-based LM alloys. This imparts them with excellent locomotion and deformation capabilities and enables diverse applications. However, electrochemical oxidation of LM is a highly dynamic process, which often induces Marangoni instabilities that make it almost impossible to elongate LM and manipulate its morphology directly and precisely on a 2D plane without the assistance of other patterning methods. To overcome these limitations, this study investigates the use of an LM-iron (Fe) particle mixture that is capable of suppressing instabilities during the electrochemical oxidation process, thereby allowing for superelongation of the LM core of the mixture to form a thin wire that is tens of times of its original length. More importantly, the elongated LM core can be manipulated freely on a 2D plane to form complex patterns. Eliminating Marangoni instabilities also allows for the effective spreading and filling of the LM-Fe mixture into molds with complex structures and small features. Harnessing these excellent abilities, a channel-less patterning method for fabricating elastomeric wearable sensors is demonstrated to detect motions. This study shows the potential for developing functional and flexible structures of LM with superior performance.
Hierarchically dual-mesoporous TiO microspheres have been synthesized by a solvothermal process in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF ]) and diethylenetriamine (DETA) as co-templates. Secondary mesostructured defects in the hierarchical TiO microspheres produce oxygen vacancies, which not only significantly enhance photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue (1.7 times that with P25) and acetone (2.9 times that with P25), but are also beneficial for lithium storage. Moreover, we propose a mechanism to rationalize the role of this dual mesoporosity of the TiO microspheres in enhancing molecular diffusion, ion transportation, and electronic transitions.
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