Beyond superconductivity towards novel biomedical, energy, ecology, and heritage applications of MgB₂

ABSTRACT

Twenty years passed since the discovery of superconductivity in MgB₂. Although there is much progress, the use of superconductors, in general, and of MgB₂ in particular, remains limited. On the other hand, in the last 10 years MgB₂ became a material of great interest for emergent applications, such as propellants, batteries, and catalysis, as a source material to obtain 2D borophene-like materials (e.g. BH borophane), biomedical field (taking advantage of its promising antimicrobial, antitumoral, biodegradable, and biocompatible features), heritage and ecology being the latest trends. These new directions place MgB₂ as a material well integrated with nature cycles that can promote the concept of one eco- and health-friendly, with many envisioned practical purposes. This type of material is at the core of a clean and sustainable economy promoting new developments, boosting the older ones (e.g. superconductivity) and minimizing the costs for the transition to new and modern materials and technologies. In this work, we review recent trends and new directions of MgB₂ applications and discuss their potential impact.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• MgB₂
• emergent applications
• superconductivity
• propellant
• biomedical
• catalyst

Acknowledgements

PB and DB acknowledge UEFISCDI and EC, projects M-ERA.NET 74/2017 BIOMB and 5 PTE/2020, BIOTEHKER.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by European Commission [grant number M-ERA.NET 74/2017 BIOMB] and Unitatea Executiva pentru Finantarea Invatamantului Superior, a Cercetarii, Dezvoltarii si Inovarii [grant number 5 PTE / 2020, BIOTEHKER,M-ERA.NET 74/2017 BIOMB].