Impossible Material Synthesized in Sweden

by Hans Mühlen 7 Nov 2013 Physics
Published in the "Nordic News" section of Nordita News issue 3, 2013

A novel magnesium carbonate material has been synthesized by researchers from Uppsala University, Sweden. The new material, named Upsalite, has shown to possess very high water adsorption abilities, and is foreseen to reduce the amount of energy needed to control environmental moisture in the electronics and drug formulation industry as well as in hockey rinks and ware houses. It can also be used for collection of toxic waste, chemicals or oil spill and in drug delivery systems, for odor control and sanitation after fire. Perhaps even more spectacular is the record breaking surface area of this magnesium carbonate, a stunning 800 square meters per gram. For over a century is has been claimed that amorphous magnesium carbonate cannot be made in a very simple, low-temperature process. The researchers at the Uppsala Nanotechnology and Functional Materials division have made the impossible possible. [Read more...]