The new heat-resistant material could revolutionize energy storage, making liquid metal batteries safe for mobile applications.
The new heat-resistant material could revolutionize energy storage, making liquid metal batteries safe for mobile applications.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed the first known metallic gel. Unlike everyday gels, like those used in hand sanitizers, hair products or soft contact lenses, this new material is made entirely of metals and can withstand extreme heat. The discovery could be a game changer for energy storage.
The gel is created by mixing two metal powders. When heated, one metal melts into a liquid, while the other stays solid and forms a microscopic scaffold. The liquid metal remains trapped inside this structure, creating a gel-like material that looks solid but contains liquid within.
Everyday gels are semi-solid materials containing an organic backbone holding liquids in place at room temperature. Unlike them, metallic gels require very high temperatures, which, depending on the metals used, can be around 1,000 degrees Celsius or 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read More: Texas A&M University
Image: Texas A&M University doctoral student Charles Borenstein loads a high-temperature tube furnace. (Credit: Emily Oswald/Texas A&M University College of Engineering)
