Interfacial Engineering of Room Temperature Liquid Metals

Room temperature liquid metals (RTLMs), especially those made of gallium-based alloys belong to an emerging versatile material with fascinating characteristics derived from its simultaneous metallic and inherent fluidic natures. The interfacial effects of liquid metal involved in diverse surfaces thus play critical roles in explaining many fundamental phenomena. Clarifying and engineering surface structure and physical/chemical properties of RTLMs under specific substrates leads to various unconventional chemical synthesis applications, energy conversion, soft machine, and printed electronics. Systematic interpretation of such interfacial issues either stabilized or dynamic is essential for constructing a holistic framework about the RTLMs interfacial engineering in developing advanced technologies. This article is dedicated to presenting a comprehensive overview of the interfacial effect of RTLMs in diverse environments and engineering strategies thus established. The basic characteristics of the interfacial effects between RTLMs, especially gallium-based alloys and different surrounding mediums such as solid, liquid, or gas ambient are systematically illustrated. Typical applications thus enabled are introduced and discussed. Furthermore, future prospects of RTLMs interfacial engineering are forecasted.