Chrome can now be used in mobile phone screens or solar systems instead of rare and expensive precious metals. With the help of an oft-repeated element, the University of Basel has reproduced the substances used so far and published their results in the journal “Nature Chemistry”. Accordingly, new chromium compounds may replace osmium and ruthenium. Fabrics used for screen lighting and solar power generation are very rare and therefore expensive. Chromium is 20,000 times more common than osmium, which makes it cheaper. New connections give as good results as previous connections.
In addition, chromium stores light energy when exposed to a red lamp. This can be used as a fuel for subsequent processes. To do this, the researchers pack the chromium atoms into a molecular structure made of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen to avoid energy loss caused by unwanted vibrations. Although the process is more complex than the traditional version, it is also significantly more reactive than the precious metals. This enables new photochemical reactions that are otherwise difficult to carry out. “Therefore there is a possibility here to use our new materials in artificial photosynthesis to produce solar fuel,” says Oliver Wenger, leader of the research group.
