NEWS By adding small amounts of metal to an established biomaterial, a doctoral researcher at Umeå University has developed new functionalities with potential applications ranging from environmental remediation to electronics and lighting.
One and the same material, but with completely different properties depending on which metal is added. This is the core of the research presented by Sana Elbashir in her upcoming doctoral thesis at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics at Umeå University.
The same crystal structure produces two entirely different outcomes depending on which metal we add
By “doping” the synthetic biomaterial β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with zinc or copper, she has demonstrated how the material’s function can be directed in different ways – from light emission to the chemical breakdown of pollutants.
– The same crystal structure produces two entirely different outcomes depending on which metal we add. Zinc directs the energy into chemical reactions, while copper instead converts it into light, says Sana Elbashir.
The zinc-doped variant showed particularly promising results as a photocatalyst. Under simulated sunlight, the material efficiently broke down organic dyes while maintaining good stability.
This opens up potential applications in areas such as environmental technology, where sunlight can be used to enhance the breakdown of pollutants in water.
At the same time, the metal-modified materials exhibited improved electrical properties. Their ability to store electrical charge increased significantly, and charge dynamics became faster compared to the pure material.
These properties make the material relevant for future electronics, for example in small capacitors or sensors.
β-TCP is already used in medical applications, for example in bone regeneration and drug delivery. The new research shows that the material can also be adapted for entirely different uses without losing its biocompatibility.
– This means that in the future, we could develop materials that combine medical functionality with additional features, such as preventing infections or enabling controlled drug release, says Sana Elbashir.