Texas A&M Researchers Develop Metallic Gel For Game-Changing Batteries
- MM24 News Desk
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Researchers at Texas A&M University have created the world's first metallic gel, a material made entirely of metal that can withstand blistering temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit). This breakthrough, led by Dr. Michael J. Demkowicz, a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, could finally unlock the potential of liquid metal batteries for use in everything from heavy industrial vehicles to hypersonic aircraft.
The discovery challenges a fundamental assumption in materials science. Scientists mix microscopic metal powders and apply intense heat. One metal melts into a liquid, while the other miraculously forms an ultrafine solid scaffold, trapping the liquid within to create a solid-looking gel. This behavior defies expectations, reported Advanced Engineering Materials, where pure molten metal would typically just collapse into a puddle.
“Metallic gels have never been reported before, probably because no one thought liquid metals could be supported by an internal ultrafine skeleton,” said Dr. Demkowicz. “What’s surprising in this case is that when the majority component – copper – was melted into liquid, it didn’t just collapse. That’s what pure copper would have done.”
This unique structure is the key to transforming energy storage. The innovation directly addresses a major hurdle for liquid metal batteries (LMBs), which are exceptional at storing massive amounts of energy but have been largely confined to stationary backup power. Why? Because the liquid electrodes inside slosh around when moved, leading to short circuits and failure. The metallic gel solves this by holding the liquid metal firmly in place, enabling the creation of stable, powerful batteries for applications that move.
The path to this discovery was serendipitous. The team, including doctoral student and first author Charles Borenstein, was initially just exploring the basic properties of metal composites. “We were just exploring different methods of processing composites by heat,” Dr. Demkowicz explained. “All we wanted to do, at first, was to see: Does this even survive until one of the components melts?”
Borenstein described his confusion when the copper-tantalum composite didn't behave as predicted. “Nothing happened, which I found kind of confusing,” he said, according to the team's published account. “We were pretty surprised by these results.” After confirming the gel structure with high-resolution micro-CT scanning, they pivoted to test the concept with battery-ready materials.
They successfully built a small lab-scale battery using a metallic gel anode of calcium and iron and a cathode of bismuth and iron, submerged in a molten salt electrolyte. It worked, producing electricity while the gel electrodes maintained their shape. This proves the feasibility of a solid-like battery with liquid-like performance.
The implications are vast. Imagine powering massive cargo ships or mining trucks without the limitations of current battery technology. Dr. Demkowicz even highlighted the potential for powering hypersonic vehicles, which operate at extreme temperatures where a very hot LMB would be perfectly suited. By creating a material that tames liquid metal, the Texas A&M team has opened a new chapter in high-temperature, high-power energy solutions that were previously just theoretical.
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