Oregon State University Researchers Develop New Eco-Friendly Pigments

According to foreign media reports, researchers at Oregon State University are using a rare mineral discovered over a century ago in Norway as a template to create vibrant, durable, non-toxic, and cost-effective new yellow, orange, and red pigments. These new pigments also have energy-saving potential, as they can reflect solar heat, meaning buildings and vehicles painted with these pigments will reduce their demand for air conditioning. The research is led by Mas Subramanian, who discovered a bright blue pigment in 2009 (commercially known as YInMn Blue). Related research papers have been published in the journal 'Chemistry of Materials.' This work focuses on the crystal structure of scandium silicate, a compound that contains scandium and yttrium. Silicates refer to any compounds characterized by silicon and oxygen.