Dynamic interface catalysis and carbon dioxide reduction of liquid metals

Abstract

Liquid metal (LM) catalysis has been demonstrated to have obvious 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 LMs 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 that induces the LM is realized by utilizing the 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 such as the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), the improvement of product selectivity by LM catalysts during the dynamic coordination process is systematically summarized, and the industrial application potential is shown in terms of the good structural self-healing ability. Current challenges include antioxidant optimization, phase stability control and uniform dispersion of active sites. Future works 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.