Shape-transformable liquid metal nanoparticles in aqueous solution

Abstract

This paper reports the formation of shape-changing and phase-transforming liquid metal particles that have potential applications in drug delivery, catalysis, colloidal jamming, and optics.

Light‐Induced Shape Morphing of Liquid Metal Nanodroplets Enabled by Polydopamine Coating

“…More interestingly, the photothermal effects can be applied for triggering the shape morphing of liquid metal nanodroplets. It has been demonstrated that spherical LM nanodroplets transform into nanorods when heated . At the present study, the photothermal conversion capability of PDA coating layer is readily to be used for shape transformation of PDA‐coated LM nanodroplets under NIR irradiation.…”

“…To further understand the mechanism of the light‐induced shape morphing, we conducted the element mapping investigation of the PDA‐coated LM nanodroplets before and after shape morphing. Notably, heating triggers the dealloying of LM nanodroplets and generates gallium oxide monohydroxide (GaOOH) by oxidation reaction . At the present study, the PDA shell converts the light energy into thermal energy, and then locally heats the inner core of LM nanodroplets.…”

“…Stable aqueous suspensions of LM nanodroplets are not only for electronic applications, but also exhibit great potential in medicine and therapy, such as drug delivery, photothermal therapy, and bioimaging . Water‐soluble surfactants, including cetrimonium bromide, poly(4‐vinyl‐1‐methyl‐pyridinium bromide), lysozyme, and trithiocarbonate‐functionalized brushed polyethylene glycol have been used to stabilize LM nanodroplets during and after sonication of bulk LMs in water . In addition, when LM nanodroplets in aqueous solution are placed at room temperature for 16 h or heated up to about 70 °C for 30 min, the spherical nanodroplets will be oxidized and dealloyed, resulting in the formation of rods of gallium oxide monohydroxide (GaOOH) and spherical indium nanoparticles .…”

“…[40,41] Water-soluble surfactants, including cetrimonium bromide, poly(4-vinyl-1-methyl-pyridinium bromide), lysozyme, and trithiocarbonatefunctionalized brushed polyethylene glycol have been used to stabilize LM nanodroplets during and after sonication of bulk LMs in water. [42,43] In addition, when LM nanodroplets in aqueous solution are placed at room temperature for 16 h or heated up to about 70 °C for 30 min, the spherical nanodroplets will be oxidized and dealloyed, resulting in the formation of rods of gallium oxide monohydroxide (GaOOH) and spherical indium nanoparticles. [40,42] To overcome this issue, various polymer coatings were used to inhibit the oxidation of LM nanodroplets and stabilize them.…”

“…[42,43] In addition, when LM nanodroplets in aqueous solution are placed at room temperature for 16 h or heated up to about 70 °C for 30 min, the spherical nanodroplets will be oxidized and dealloyed, resulting in the formation of rods of gallium oxide monohydroxide (GaOOH) and spherical indium nanoparticles. [40,42] To overcome this issue, various polymer coatings were used to inhibit the oxidation of LM nanodroplets and stabilize them. [44,45] Although the oxidation and dealloying are detrimental to the stability of the colloid, these processes pave a pathway for fabrication of stimuli-responsive shape-transformable nanomaterials.…”