‘Black Gold’ for Betterment

Gold is much more of an obsession to Indians, boasting highest number of Gold consumers across the entire length of the nation. Gold is a very valuable metal not just economically but it is also valued morally in Indian culture. However, by altering the chemicals bonds, scientists have come up with a new metal named ‘Black Gold’. 

Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFRscientists, which includes, Mahak Dhiman, Ayan Maity, Anirban Das, Rajesh Belgamwar, Bhagyashree Chalke and Vivek Polshettiwar (TIFT); Yeonhee Lee, Kyunjong Sim and Jwa-Min Nam (Seoul National University), rearranged the chemical bonds by distancing the nanoparticles of the metal and without any other chemicals being doped, they invented the new metal and named it ‘Black Gold’. The newly found metal is no longer golden in colour like the original metal Gold, but on the contrary, it is Black in colour. The name ‘Black Gold’ itself was derived keeping in mind the colour of the metal. The entire research was funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

The scientists have been working from quite some time now, modifying the Gold nanoparticles using a cycle-by-cycle growth approach by optimizing the nucleation-growth step, using dendritic fibrous nanosilica to alter the amount of space in between each nanoparticle without meddling it with other materials or chemicals. 

The most unique thing about ‘Black Gold’ is that, it has a special ability of absorbing carbon dioxide and almost any visible light and the near-infrared radiation from the Sun. This a big step towards countering the concerning situation around Climate Change, as the ‘black Gold’ is capable of converting carbon dioxide from air into Methane and thus, can be used for preparing fuel or other chemicals. Apart from this, due to being able to absorb solar energy, it also has the divine ability to turn seawater into drinking water by using it in potable nano-heaters, which might help improve the water scarcity problems. The invention of ‘Black Gold’ is a breakthrough for humans to contribute something back to environment and take a small step towards altering the damage already being done.

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