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Uppsala University, Sweden
A breakthrough in materials science has taken place at Uppsala University in Sweden. Researchers there have successfully created a material that was once thought impossible to produce — the largest surface area material ever known. This remarkable substance, with an impressive 800 square meters per gram, shows extraordinary absorbent properties and could revolutionize various industries. The findings were recently published in the Public Library of Science.
Scientists believe this new material could significantly reduce energy use in devices that regulate humidity, enhance drug formulations in the pharmaceutical industry, and improve environmental control in warehouses. It also holds potential for use in transportation systems to capture toxic waste, chemicals, and oil leaks, as well as in sanitation and fire safety equipment to manage odors.
The material is called "Upsalite," a form of amorphous magnesium carbonate. While crystalline forms of magnesium carbonate are naturally abundant, creating a non-crystalline version without water was considered extremely challenging. However, the research team at Uppsala found a way to produce it using a simple cryogenic process.
John Gomz de la Tor from the Department of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials explained that the discovery came about by accident. In 2011, during an experiment, they accidentally left more than three materials in the reactor, leading to the formation of a sticky gel-like substance. After drying it, they discovered something truly remarkable. Following a year of analysis and refinement, they finally succeeded in producing what was once deemed "impossible."
Upsalite boasts the largest surface area among all known alkaline earth metal carbonates. Its structure is filled with tiny pores, less than 10 nanometers in diameter, which allow it to interact uniquely with its environment. This makes it highly effective at absorbing moisture — even outperforming current best materials when humidity levels are low.
Due to these properties, Upsalite joins the ranks of high-surface-area breathable materials such as mesoporous silica, zeolites, metal-organic frameworks, and carbon nanotubes. Malila Stom, the director of the university’s nanotechnology and functional materials department, emphasized that the unique characteristics of Upsalite open up exciting possibilities for sustainable industrial applications. This discovery marks a significant step forward in the development of advanced, eco-friendly materials.
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