Exploring Liquid Metals as Dynamic Reaction Media

Liquid metals often exhibit enhanced catalytic performance owing to their inherent characteristics, including the facile preparation of liquid alloys, atomic dispersion of dissolved elements, high-entropy surface structures, adaptive atomic configurations, and resistance to coking. These features fundamentally distinguish liquid metals from their solid counterparts, which possess fixed atomic arrangements. The transient geometries and electronic properties of liquid atoms within a dynamic matrix increase the possibility to align with various reactants, enabling energy-favorable adsorption patterns and reaction pathways. The catalytic properties of liquid media can be tuned by regulating the dissolved components and/or combining with other functional species. To date, a variety of bond dissociation and formation reactions, centering on C–C, C–H, C–O, C=C, C–N, and C–Cl, have been achieved using liquid metal media. The distinctive catalytic phenomena and the underlying mechanisms associated with liquid metals challenge the conventional understanding of catalysis based on solid-state catalysts. The use of liquid metal media for chemical reactions remains at an early stage, offering great opportunities for future exploration.