Breakthrough of Chinese Scientists - Let Liquid Metal Machine Run, Jump

In 1991, the movie "Terminator 2" appears in a powerful robot T-1000, the use of liquid metal to create a robot no matter how much harm can be met with an instant automatic recovery, and even can change the body shape and facial appearance. This deformation robot scientist has always been one of the goals, and now, a study by Chinese scientists in the field of liquid metal eligible for a breakthrough in the long road of research and a small step forward. New research allow liquid metal machine can "run" can "jump".

Liu Jing team research group reported an unusual unique self-oscillation effect of liquid metal solid-liquid combination machine: when the tungsten copper wire touches treated aluminum-containing liquid metal, tungsten copper wire are quickly swallowed by the liquid metal, and then made a long shuttle back and forth movement of the liquid metal in the body, like playing the violin string music in general.

Tungsten copper wire with heat ablation resistance, high strength, electrical conductivity and other characteristics.

The authors found that a class of interesting liquid metal jump behavior: There is added to the discharge of solid metal particles (tungsten, nickel, copper, iron, etc.) solution system of metal droplets, the original stationary metal droplets began to beat up and leaving a string of cake in the bottom of the container "footprint."

Research revealed that the surface of the metal particles and liquid metal point contact occurs when the electric field strength at the interface significantly enhanced, as well as in the solution within the electrolysis hydrogen production, hydrogen bubbles are formed in the substrate continues to grow adsorption "gas spring", which droplets jump provide thrust. One of the factors leading to the electric field polarization between the liquid metal from the metal particles with solid potential difference that is galvanic effect; the other reason is that the solid - liquid material microstructure differences between the interface will lead to charge accumulation, sparking tip discharge effect.

Research team by a plating method in the liquid metal surface mount ferromagnetic nickel layer, thereby realizing flexible control of the machine in an external magnetic or electric field and verify its potential value in terms of drug delivery. Beyond the random motion of the liquid metal type machine it is that the magnetic solid-liquid combination can be achieved from the machine stop motion, steering and acceleration of complex behavior.

Furthermore, the team also developed a kind of flexible deformable "wheels" driven miniature vehicle, its body is made of plastic and metal droplets through a combination of 3D printing. In the electric field, the liquid metal "wheel" can rotate deformed, and then drive the vehicle travels, and even accelerate the realization of more complex motion.

Liu Jing study team found that in the electrolyte, a liquid gallium based alloy, after "swallowing" Aluminum as food or fuel, can actually deformed shape long high-speed motion machine to achieve without external power autonomy movement.

In recent years, Liu Jing team has been working to promote joint industry liquid metal industrial applications. She said: We have the opportunity to study in the liquid metal in the world to go ahead, but can not lag behind in terms of industry, we need to seize the historic opportunity to help build our country into a world-class liquid metal valley.

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