Liquid gallium as a mediator for synergistically enhanced energy release in Al/MoO3 thermite

Liquid metals offer a unique paradigm for modulating the performance of energetic materials due to their exceptional physicochemical properties. In this study, a novel strategy to enhance the reactivity of Al/MoO 3 thermite by incorporating liquid metal Ga was systematically investigated. Micro-scale Ga particles and Al Ga composite particles were successfully prepared via a surfactant-assisted ultrasonic dispersion method, which effectively inhibited the coalescence of liquid Ga and enabled uniform distribution within the thermite. The results demonstrated that the Ga-containing thermite exhibited excellent performance in key parameters including heat release, ignition, and combustion characteristics. Even with Ga addition accounting for only 5% of the Al mass, the AlGa5/MoO 3 thermite exhibited a 6.6% enhancement in heat release to 4023 J/g, a 29% reduction in ignition delay time to 0.72 ms, a 35% increase in burning rate to 10.2 m /s, and a 5.7% rise in peak flame temperature to 2562 °C, all compared to the baseline Al/MoO 3 thermite. Post-combustion characterization confirmed the formation of a Ga Mo intermetallic compound, which demonstrates that Ga primarily acts as a mediator by forming rapid heat-transfer channels. The findings underscore the immense potential of liquid metals as versatile additives for designing next-generation energetic materials with tailored ignition and combustion properties.