Magnesium diboride (MgB2) is a low-cost, non-toxic superconductor used in field magnets, electric motors, and generators. However, producing nanoscale boron (B) particles to fabricate MgB2 is expensive. Researchers recently tackled this issue by using high-energy ultra-sonication in 2-propanol, a highly viscous solvent, to produce impurity-free, nm-sized B particles. The approach is cost-effective and enables fabrication of bulk MgB2 with high critical current density, a prerequisite for the sustainable production of high-performance superconducting magnets.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Scientists at SIT in Japan produced high-performance MgB2 by ultrasonicating boron (B) in 2-propanol for varying durations. The inset displays high magnification FE-SEM images of B particles obtained after 0 and 45 minutes, respectively, with the latter showing 20-50 nm refined grains. Credit: Muralidhar Miryala from Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan Magnesium diboride (MgB 2 ) is a low-cost, non-toxic superconductor used in field magnets, electric motors, and generators. However, producing nanoscale boron (B) particles to fabricate MgB 2 is expensive. Researchers recently tackled this issue by using high-energy ultra-sonication in 2-propanol, a highly viscous solvent, to produce impurity-free, nm-sized B particles. The approach is cost-effective and enables fabrication of bulk MgB 2 with high critical current density, a prerequisite for the sustainable production of high-performance superconducting magnets. Magnesium diboride (MgB 2 ), a binary compound, behaves as a superconductor—a substance that offers no resistance to electric current flowing through it—at a moderate temperature of around 39 K (-234°C). This temperature can be achieved using relatively inexpensive liquid hydrogen or neon coolants. In addition, MgB 2 is inexpensive, lightweight, and non-toxic, and its precursors—magnesium (Mg) and boron (B)—are abundantly available. As a result, it can replace conventional low-temperature…