Scientists Develop Crystal That Breathes Oxygen Like Human Lungs

Image Credentials: Image Title: Scientists Develop Crystal That Breathes Oxygen Like Human Lungs Source: (gemini) Date: August 2025  Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (gemini), it does not depict a real-world scene.

By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle

Busan, August 22, 2025 — In a breakthrough that could redefine the future of clean energy and smart electronics, scientists in Korea and Japan have created a crystal capable of inhaling and exhaling oxygen much like human lungs. The material, a special form of metal oxide, remains stable under real-world conditions and can undergo this oxygen cycle repeatedly, opening new doors for fuel cells, eco-friendly smart windows, and next-generation electronic devices.

The research, led by Professor Hyoungjeen Jeen of Pusan National University in Korea and co-authored by Professor Hiromichi Ohta of Hokkaido University in Japan, was published in Nature Communications on August 15, 2025.

“It is like giving the crystal lungs,” says Prof. Jeen. “It can inhale and exhale oxygen on command, and it does so without degrading.”

Breathing Materials for Energy Innovation

The crystal, made of strontium, iron, and cobalt, demonstrates a rare ability: when exposed to heat in a gas environment, it releases oxygen atoms. When cooled or placed in oxygen-rich conditions, it takes the oxygen back, restoring itself to its original structure. Unlike earlier materials, which were too fragile or required extreme conditions, this crystal operates under milder, practical temperatures.

Breathing Beyond Biology • Stable Crystal Sponges Up O2, Exhaling Hope for Cleaner Energy Tech. Imagine a smart sponge that selectively dumps oxygen by reducing only its cobalt ions, forming a stable new crystal phase, then snaps back to original form when oxygen returns- fully… pic.twitter.com/g5dlRMewo2

— Nirmata (@En_formare) August 20, 2025

What makes the finding particularly striking is that only cobalt ions inside the material are reduced during the process, triggering the formation of a new, stable crystal structure. The change is fully reversible, meaning the material can be reused indefinitely without structural collapse.

Applications from Fuel Cells to Smart Buildings

This oxygen-breathing ability has vast implications. In solid oxide fuel cells, which generate electricity from hydrogen with minimal emissions, controlling oxygen is vital for performance and efficiency. Similarly, thermal transistors—devices that manage heat flow like an electrical switch, could benefit from materials that can regulate oxygen content in real time.

Smart windows are another potential application. By adjusting their oxygen content, such windows could automatically control heat flow based on outdoor conditions, reducing energy use in buildings and contributing to eco-friendly construction.

“This is a major step towards the realization of smart materials that can adjust themselves dynamically,” says Prof. Ohta. “We are essentially talking about materials that behave as if they are alive.”

Global Collaboration and Support

The project was supported by multiple grants, including funding from the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. It also benefited from cross-border cooperation programs and advanced research facilities in both countries.

The discovery marks a significant leap forward in material science. By developing a crystal that breathes like lungs, researchers have not only deepened our understanding of how oxygen can be manipulated in solid materials but also paved the way for cleaner, smarter, and more adaptable technologies.