Masks help people breathe underwater

Divers in the future need only a thin mask to breathe under water, without the need for oxygen, thanks to a new material capable of absorbing and storing large amounts of oxygen.

Researchers Christine McKenzie and Jonas Sundberg from the University of Southern Denmark have successfully fabricated a new material capable of absorbing oxygen from the water and surrounding air . In the future, this material can replace the bulky scuba gear of divers, Natureworldnews reported.

Future divers do not need oxygen to breathe underwater today. (Photo: Pixabay)

McKenzie says the synthetic material is crystalline, which acts like hemoglobin in human red blood cells, which stores and transports oxygen throughout the body. The important part of the material is cobalt inside a special organic molecular structure, which allows the absorption of oxygen from the surrounding environment. Just a bucket of crystals, about 10 liters, is more than enough to absorb all the oxygen in a room.

The material is reusable, which is similar to a sponge soaked in water, which can squeeze out water and let it suck water back. The amount of oxygen stored inside the material is released by gently heating the material or under the influence of a low pressure such as in a vacuum.

Scientists are looking for ways to make a pure oxygen storage mask from the air. Materials are very valuable for people with lung disease, who often carry heavy oxygen. One day diver can leave the oxygenator at home and instead use that material to absorb oxygen in the air or water.

Crystals are black when they saturate oxygen and turn pink when oxygen is released. Photo: University of Southern Denmark

"Just a few of the material particles will produce enough oxygen for a breath, which will absorb oxygen from the water around the diver and give it back to the diver," McKenzie explains.

However, such great products have a long way to go to develop, and the material promises to bring people many future applications.