The same Chinese research group which came up with a "Terminator-like" liquid metal is now suggesting it might be the right choice to use in the development of quantum computers, reports the People's Daily.

Liu Jing, professor at Tsinghua University and researcher with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is suggesting the liquid metal his research group developed a few years ago could help make quantum computers highly flexible and more able to process data more efficiently than semi-conductors.

Liu argues that traditional semi-conductors and transistors are reaching their physical limits in supercomputers. He suggests the liquid metal they've been working with could help advance a super-computer's architecture, essentially allowing it to take in multiple instructions, creating a faster computing speed.

"Different from traditional computers, quantum computers compute through quantum superposition and entanglement. By replacing the solid-state core devices which compose the quantum computer with pure liquid quantum devices, and control them via force fields, electric field and magnetic fields, it could be possible to achieve quantum computing with more flexibility and controllability," said Liu.

Liu's team has already made progress with its liquid metal. The group was able to create a liquid metal-printed electronic circuit in 2013. The group was also able to use the liquid metal to help power a humanoid robot which can run, jump and carry things.

Liquid metal is officially known as Galinstan, which is an alloy derived from gallium, indium, and tin. Combined correctly, the compound stays in a liquid form at room temperature. (CRI)