Properties of gallium in porous glass

Sonochemistry of molten gallium

This review article summarizes the comprehensive work that was done in our laboratory in recent years, as-well-as other reports, on the various aspects of sonochemistry of molten gallium. The low mp (29.8 °C) of gallium enables its melting in warm water, aqueous solutions and organic liquids. This opened a new research direction that focused on the chemical and physical properties of gallium particles that were formed in such media. It includes their interactions with water and with organic and inorganic solutes in aqueous solutions and with carbon nanoparticles. Formation of nanoparticles of liquid gallium alloys was also reported.

Superconductivity and structure of gallium under nanoconfinement

Superconductivity and crystalline structure were studied for two nanocomposites consisting of gallium loaded porous glasses with different pore sizes. The superconducting transition temperatures were found to differ from those in known bulk gallium modifications. The transition temperatures 7.1 and 6.7 K were ascribed to two new confined gallium structures, ι- and κ-Ga, observed by synchrotron radiation x-ray powder diffraction. The evolution of superconductivity on decreasing the pore filling with gallium was also studied.

The solid state phase transition of gallium particles and its size dependence

Submicrometer-sized Ga particles were dispersed in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) matrix by an ultrasonic vibration and sedimentation method. The solid phase transition from γ-Ga to δ-Ga and its Ga particle size dependence were studied by means of differential scanning calorimeter measurements. It was shown that a solid-solid phase transition corresponding to the [Formula: see text]-Ga one happened in Ga particles upon cooling. Moreover, the ratio of the particles undergoing the solid phase transition to all particles increases with decrease of the particle size.

Unusual freezing and melting of gallium encapsulated in carbon nanotubes

The freezing and melting behavior of gallium (Ga) encapsulated in carbon nanotubes was investigated through in situ observation in a transmission electron microscope. It is shown that Ga remains liquid up to -80 degrees C when encapsulated in carbon nanotubes. Results of detailed electron diffraction analysis show that the encapsulated Ga can crystallize in either beta phase or gamma phase rather than the common alpha phase upon freezing. Both beta-Ga and gamma-Ga melt at around -20 degrees C. While this is very close to the melting point of bulk beta-Ga (-16 degrees C), it is considerably higher than that of bulk gamma-Ga (-35.6 degrees C). It was observed that upon solidification, Ga has its unique crystallographic orientation relative to the host carbon nanotube.