Ag–Ga Bimetallic Nanostructures Ultrasonically Prepared from Silver–Liquid Gallium Core–Shell Systems Engineered for Catalytic Applications

Abstract

Silver (Ag) nanoalloys play significant roles in several industrial applications. While still many sustainable frameworks can be explored for the synthesis and functional incorporations, the control of phase and structure at the nanoscale still is a major challenge for their practical implementation. In this study, liquid-phase gallium (Ga(L)) nano-/microspheres were utilized for this purpose, investigating their function as reaction media and metallic alloying elements for the development of one-dimensional (1D) Ag–Ga nanoalloys from a silver fluoride precursor. Ultrasonic input at near room temperature was selected for the green synthesis method. The mechanisms for the nucleation, anisotropic growth, and morphological development under ultrasonic oscillations were comprehensively analyzed. The experimental outcomes revealed that the development of 1D Ag–Ga nanoalloys was in correlation with the ultrasonic exposure time, influencing the inter-/intraparticle interactions, modulating the Ga(L) nano-/microsphere dimensional and structural properties, and establishing Ag–Ga bimetallic core–shell microsystems accordingly. The subsequent self-assembly mechanisms were observed to have been primarily driven by Ga(L) surface tension and intermolecular forces promoting spontaneous Ag–Ga liquid–solid interfacial wetting and intermetallic diffusion. The nucleation and crystallization of the 1D nanoalloys developed following two possible pathways for the differentiation of morphologies in the form of either nanoneedles or nanorods identified as the Ag2Ga crystal phase. We observed that the key advantage of Ga(L) nano-/microspheres as the reaction media is the direct control of the phase and morphological development of the 1D Ag–Ga batch structures, demonstrating a straightforward route for the green synthesis of engineered nanoalloys for catalytic applications.

Acoustic-Activated Se Crystalline Nanodomains at Atomically-Thin Liquid-Metal Piezoelectric Heterointerfaces for Synergistic CO2 Conversion

“…The main factor for a sustainable CO 2 catalysis process relies on the generation of a cyclic path where the Ga(0) ↔ Ga + reaction occurs continuously in the system. Therefore, reversible conversion of Ga to Ga + should be guaranteed for continued CO 2 conversion, like what has been recently developed in a Ga microparticle system anchored with Ag 0.72 Ga 0.28 nanorods . In the present study, piezoelectric crystalline Se-rich nanodomains were grown on the Ga-In NP surface.…”

“…Therefore, reversible conversion of Ga to Ga + should be guaranteed for continued CO 2 conversion, like what has been recently developed in a Ga microparticle system anchored with Ag 0.72 Ga 0.28 nanorods. 39 In the present study, piezoelectric crystalline Se-rich nanodomains were grown on the Ga-In NP surface. The ferroelectricity/piezoelectricity properties of elemental and crystalline Se at room temperature were reported recently, where a strong in-plane piezoelectric coefficient of 30 pm/V was recorded for a t-Se single crystal.…”

Surface Functionalization of Micrometer Silver Flakes for Fabricating High-Performance Electrically Conductive Adhesives

“…It was reported that glutaric acid contains some elements, such as O, S, N, H, etc., that could form hydrogen bonds, covalent bonds, dipolar bonds, or ionic bonds − with organic lubricants on the Ag surface and can improve the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the ECAs. In addition, it can be used to remove the surface oxide layer of liquid metal based inks, (e.g., gallium and gallium-based alloys), which greatly affects the interfacial properties of the liquid metal, such as adhesion, wettability, and rheological behavior of liquid metals . However, there are few reports on the related reaction mechanism of adding short-chain dibasic acid into the ECAs for improving the electrical and mechanical properties of the ECAs.…”

Interface-Controlled Phase Separation of Liquid Metal-Based Eutectic Ternary Alloys

“…Low-meting-point post-transition metal-based liquid alloys, also known as liquid metals (LMs), are a burgeoning subject of studies due to their unique interfacial characteristics. 1−4 The interfaces of LMs are atomically smooth, chemically active, and stimulus-responsive, enabling a range of applications from materials synthesis 5 and thermal management 6−8 to catalysis 9−11 and sensing. 12−14 LMs are highly fusible alloys that can dissolve various metals.…”

“…Low-meting-point post-transition metal-based liquid alloys, also known as liquid metals (LMs), are a burgeoning subject of studies due to their unique interfacial characteristics. − The interfaces of LMs are atomically smooth, chemically active, and stimulus-responsive, enabling a range of applications from materials synthesis and thermal management − to catalysis − and sensing. − LMs are highly fusible alloys that can dissolve various metals. ,, The stratified surface of LMs in such alloys can undergo phase separation by oxidation and simultaneous templating onto the surface of the LM. Subsequently, the oxide at the interface can be harvested in a procedure that is generally referred to as “LM-assisted interfacial synthesis of two-dimensional oxides”. − Additionally, by inducing physical perturbation at the LM interfaces, phase separation of solute metals, in their zero-valent form, can be achieved.…”