Dynamic Interface Catalysis and Carbon Dioxide Reduction of Liquid Metal

Abstract

Liquid metal (LM) catalysis has demonstrated revolutionary potential in the fields of energy conversion and environmental catalysis due to its unique dynamic interface, adjustable electronic structure and regenerative ability of active sites. Compared with traditional solid-state catalysts, the atomic-level degrees of freedom and fluidity of typical gallium-based LM exhibit advantages such as anti-poisoning, interface self-repair, and dynamic regulation of reaction pathways. Based on the fundamental characteristics and mechanisms of LM catalysis, this work systematically expounds the phase structure regulation corresponding to achieving low-temperature fluidity. The dynamic adaptation of the interfacial tension gradient of LM induced by oxide film skin. By means of the orbital coupling between the solute metal and the electronic structure of the matrix and the regulation of the external field, the precise control of catalytic sites is achieved. From the application aspects such as CO2 electroreduction, the improvement of product selectivity by LM catalysts during the dynamic coordination process was systematically summarized, and the potential industrial application potential was shown in terms of the good structural self-healing ability of LM. Current challenges include antioxidant optimization, phase stability control and uniform dispersion of active sites. Future research should focus on the combination of multi-component alloy design, in-situ characterization and field regulation technology to promote the industrial application of LM catalysis.