The MIT researchers were trying to develop a new battery, but it didn’t work out that way. Instead, the researchers unexpectedly discovered a whole new way of producing the metal antimony — and potentially a new way of smelting other metals, as well.
The discovery could lead to metal-production systems that are much less expensive and that virtually eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with most traditional metal smelting. Although antimony itself is not a widely used metal, the same principles may also be applied to producing much more abundant and economically important metals such as copper and nickel.
