MICRO-CAPSULES HAVING AN AMORPHOUS SOLID CORE
A particle comprises an amorphous solid metallic core enclosed within a metal-oxide shell. The amorphous solid metallic core includes one or more metals and is below a glass transition temperature of the one or more metals. The particle further comprises one or more regions having a crystalline or semi-crystalline structure disposed within the amorphous solid metallic core.
1 . A particle comprising:
an amorphous solid metallic core enclosed within a metal-oxide shell.
2 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous solid metallic core includes one or more metals and is below a glass transition temperature of the one or more metals.
3 . The particle of claim 1 , further comprising one or more regions having a crystalline or semi-crystalline structure disposed within the amorphous solid metallic core.
4 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous solid metallic core includes tin, silver and copper.
5 . The particle of claim 4 , wherein the amorphous solid metallic core further includes at least one additional element.
6 . The particle of claim 4 , wherein the amorphous solid metallic core further includes at least one of phosphorous, vanadium, silicon or bismuth.
7 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous solid metallic core includes tin and bismuth.
8 . The particle of claim 7 , wherein the amorphous solid metallic core further includes at least one additional element.
9 . The particle of claim 7 , wherein the amorphous solid metallic core further includes at least one of phosphorous, vanadium or silicon.
10 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the metal-oxide shell includes one or more layers.
11 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the metal-oxide shell includes an outer metal-oxide layer and an inner metal layer.
12 . The particle of claim 1 , further comprising an organic coating on an exterior surface of the shell.
13 . A droplet comprising:
a metal alloy core in an amorphous solid state; and
a shell fully enclosing the metal alloy core and including at least one metal-oxide layer.
14 . The droplet of claim 13 , further comprising one or more regions having a crystalline or semi-crystalline structure disposed within the metal alloy core.
15 . The droplet of claim 13 , wherein the metal alloy core includes tin, silver and copper.
16 . The droplet of claim 15 , wherein the metal alloy core further includes at least one of phosphorous, vanadium, silicon or bismuth.
17 . The droplet of claim 13 , wherein the metal alloy core includes tin and bismuth.
18 . The droplet of claim 17 , wherein the metal alloy core further includes at least one of phosphorous, vanadium or silicon.
19 . A method of making a droplet, the method comprising:
forming a metal core;
forming a shell around the metal core; and
transitioning the metal core to an amorphous solid state.
20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising forming one or more regions within the metal core that have a crystalline or semi-crystalline structure.