Berkeley Lab researchers have produced non-toxic magnesium oxide nanocrystals that efficiently emit blue light and could also play a role in long-term storage of carbon dioxide, a potential means of tempering the effects of global warming.

Using an organometallic chemical synthesis route, scientists at the Molecular Foundry have created nanocrystals of magnesium oxide, a cheap, white mineral, whose size can be adjusted within just a few nanometres. Nanocrystals glow blue when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Unlike conventional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, solid-state lighting makes use of light-emitting semiconductor materials. In general, red, green and blue emitting materials are combined to create white light.

However, efficient blue light emitters are difficult to produce, suggesting these magnesium oxide nanocrystals could be a bright candidate for lighting that consumes less energy and has a longer lifespan.

Scientists at Berkeley Labs’ Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) for Nanoscale Control of Geologic CO{-2} are looking at using this for the geological storage of carbon dioxide.

But the success of this technology hinges on sealing geochemical reservoirs deep below the earth’s surface without allowing

If properly stored, the captured carbon dioxide pumped underground forms carbonate minerals with the surrounding rock by reacting with nanoparticles of magnesium oxide and other mineral oxides. — Our Bureau