Sonochemistry of molten metals
Vijay Bhooshan Kumar, Aharon Gedanken, Ze’ev Porat
Abstract
elemental metals or alloys were also reported. Among metals, mercury and gallium exhibit especially-low melting points and are thus considered as liquid metals (LMs). Sonication of mercury in aqueous solutions of certain metal ions can cause simultaneous reduction of the ions and reactions between the metals. Gallium can be melted and sonicated in warm water, as well as in aqueous solutions of various solutes such as metal ions and organic compounds, which opened a wide window of interactions between the gallium particles and the solutes. Sonication of molten metals in organic liquids, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400, forms carbon dots (C-dots) doped with nanoparticles of these metals. This review article summarizes the various interactions and reactions that occur upon sonication of metals in liquid media.