Vitrification of Liquid Metal‐in‐Oil Emulsions Using Nano‐Mineral Oxides

Ga and Ga-based alloys have recently received significant attention as “liquid metals (LMs)” with the combined advantages of a low toxicity, melting point, high fluidity, conductivity. An important method for modifying LMs enhanced processabilities new applications is to tailor them into colloidal microdroplets suspended in liquid medium. In this study, unique vitrification behavior oil-based systems shown LM induced by various mineral oxide (MO) nanoparticles that are added solid rheology modifiers. MOs exhibit affinity surfaces droplets an apolar oil medium due polar interaction between MO surface skin LM. Thus, even minute amounts (ΦMO < 0.01) transform free-flowing suspension ≈ 0.55) highly viscoelastic fluid enables advanced processing (e.g., 3D printing). At loadings ≥ 0.1), emulsion unprecedentedly rheological strength obtained, characterized yield stress ≈104 Pa. vitrified emulsions, partial sintering effects internal sample stress, which improves thermophysical properties emulsions may be useful several practical applications.