New Study Reveals Unique Phase Transition in Gallium-Copper Alloy

A recent study published in the journal Advanced Science has detailed the unusual phase transition properties of an alloy composed of gallium and copper. Researchers observed the alloy transitioning from liquid to solid and back again, a behavior that is exceptionally rare but achievable when gallium crystallizes.

Gallium, a metal that melts at temperatures just below human body temperature (approximately 30 degrees Celsius), was mixed with copper to create a double alloy. This resulted in an intermetallic colloid where copper particles are evenly distributed throughout the molten gallium, making the alloy particularly intriguing for scientific investigation.

The study utilized a transmission electron microscope to analyze the alloy. Researchers discovered that the alloy melted and solidified at a temperature 10 degrees below the melting point of gallium. The phase transition occurred at a depth of 10 nanometers, indicating that the transition from one state to another is attributed to the intrinsic properties of the alloy rather than uneven heating.