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Strategic Study of CAE >> 2020, Volume 22, Issue 5 doi: 10.15302/J-SSCAE-2020.05.016

Rise of the Liquid Metal Science, Technology and Industry: Advancements and Opportunities

1. Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;

2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Funding project:中国工程院咨询项目“新材料强国 2035 战略研究” (2018-ZD-03);国家自然科学基金项目 (51890893、 91748206);中国科学院前沿项目及院长基金项目 Received: 2020-07-12 Revised: 2020-08-30 Available online: 2020-10-12

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Abstract

The room temperature liquid metal and its allied materials are a class of emerging functional matters with diverse species. Recently, with breakthrough discoveries made on liquid metals, tremendous exciting applications were raised and many new materials that had never been anticipated before were invented. As a result, the latest achievements on liquid metals were ascribed as the second revolution of human beings over the process of utilizing metals. This article briefly summarized typical advancements, fundamental sciences, and key technological and industrial areas thus initiated which include but are not limited to: chip cooling and energy utilization, printed electronics and 3D printing, biomedical materials, as well as smart soft machines. In addition, historic background to propose and establish “The China Liquid Metal Valley” and the basic strategy to mold a brand new industry of liquid metal were outlined. The core values to strengthen future research on liquid metal material genome engineering and thus build up corresponding databases were summarized. Overall, liquid metals are important frontiers for science, technology, and industry integrating both fundamental and practical issues together. Further continuous endeavors would lead to pivotal progress of human civilization and thus reshape social production and lifestyle. Its impact for both China and the world to explore next generation revolutionary science, technology, and industry will be huge.

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