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Materials, fundamentals, and technologies of liquid metals toward carbon neutrality

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Abstract

Carbon-neutral technologies are critical to ensure a stable future climate. Currently, low-melting-point liquid metals are emerging rapidly as important energy materials with significant potential to contribute to carbon neutrality. The advantages of gallium- and bismuth-based liquid metals, such as their high fluidity, low melting point, high thermal/electrical conductivity, unique chemical properties, non-flammability, and nontoxic characteristics, render them highly attractive for the development of advanced carbon-neutral technologies. Although their significance in both academia and industry has increased gradually, to the best of our knowledge, a systematic monograph of liquid-metal materials, mechanisms, and technologies toward carbon neutrality is not yet available. Therefore, we presented a comprehensive review of low-melting-point liquid metals for carbon neutrality. First, liquid-metal materials, including fluids, pastes, solids, and their composites were introduced. Subsequently, the mechanisms of liquid-metal technologies used to achieve carbon neutrality were interpreted. Finally, typical liquid-metal applications of carbon neutrality in the power, industry, transport, and building sectors were presented. Both the fundamental mechanisms and promising technologies were elaborated upon, and the critical assessment criteria for carbon-neutral technologies were discussed. The scientific and technical challenges and future perspectives in these areas were also highlighted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    YueGuang Deng & Yi Jiang

  2. Ruixin College, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    ErTai E

  3. Jinggong College, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    Jing Li

  4. North Information Control Research Academy Group Co., Ltd., Yangzhou, 225001, China

    ShengFu Mei

  5. Beijing DREAMInk Technologies Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100080, China

    Yang Yu

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  1. YueGuang Deng
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Correspondence to YueGuang Deng.

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This work was supported by the Beijing Institute of Technology Research Fund Program for Young Scholars and the 2020 Collaborative Education Project of the Ministry of Education by Beijing DREAMInk Technologies Co., Ltd. (Grant No. 202101049002).

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Deng, Y., E, E., Li, J. et al. Materials, fundamentals, and technologies of liquid metals toward carbon neutrality. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 66, 1576–1594 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-022-2239-9

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