Hyoungjeen Jeen / Pusan National University
Crystal with the ability to breathe oxygen can be used in state -of -the -art clean and electronics technologies
Crystal that inhales and exudes oxygen as if it were a pair of lungs remains stable in real conditions and can be reused numerous times, which makes it ideal for energy and electronic applications-ranging from fuel cells to smart windows-friendly windows.
A team of scientists from Korea and Japan discovered a new type of crystal capable of “breathe” – releasing and absorbing oxygen repeatedly at relatively low temperatures.
This unique capacity can change the way we develop clean energy technologies, including fuel cells, low energy windows and intelligent thermal devices.
The new crystalline material now developed is a special metallic oxide composed of Strontium, iron and cobaltexplains the.
What makes it exceptional is that it can release oxygen when heated in a simple gaseous environment and absorb it without degrading.
This process can be repeated numerous times, making it highly promising for practical applications.
O, presented in an article published last week in the Naturewas led by the teacher Hyoungjen Jeenfrom the Department of Physics of Pusan National University, in Korea, and coasinated by the teacher Hiromichi Ohtado Research Institute for Electronic Science da Hokkaido University, no Japão.
“It’s like giving lungs to the crystal “He can inhale and exhale oxygen under command,” says Jeen.
Controlling oxygen in materials is crucial For technologies such as solid oxide fuel cells, which produce electricity from hydrogen with minimal emissions.
This control is also important in thermal transistors – devices that direct heat similar to electrical switches – And in intelligent windows that adjust the heat flow depending on the climate.
So far, most materials capable of controlling oxygen in this way was too fragile or only worked under extreme conditionsas very high temperatures. This new material, however, acts in more moderate conditions and remains stable.
“EThis discovery is remarkable in two aspects: Only cobalt ions are reduced and the process leads to the formation of a completely new but stable crystal structure, ”explains Hyoungjeen Jeen.
The team also demonstrated that the material can return to their form Original when oxygen is reintroduced, proving that the process is totally reversible.
“This is a big step towards the realization of smart materials capable of adjust in real time”, He says in his turn Hiromichi Ohta.” Potential applications range from clean to electronics, through sustainable building materials. “
