US scientists develop world-first metallic gel for next-gen batteries

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed the world’s first metallic gel, a novel material combining metals with gel-like properties that can withstand extreme heat. This breakthrough emerged unexpectedly during experiments with a copper-tantalum metal mixture heated near 1,000°C. In this process, copper melted into a liquid while tantalum remained solid, forming a microscopic scaffold that trapped the liquid copper within, creating a stable gel-like metallic structure. Unlike traditional organic gels, metallic gels maintain stability at very high temperatures, making them promising for demanding industrial and energy storage applications. The team demonstrated the practical potential of metallic gels by constructing a liquid metal battery (LMB) using this gel as an electrode. Conventional LMBs, while efficient for energy storage, have been limited to stationary use because the liquid components shift during movement, risking short circuits. The metallic gel’s internal scaffold immobilizes the liquid metal without compromising performance, enabling the possibility of portable or transportable LMBs suitable for powering ships, industrial machinery,