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Nature Nanotechnology 3, 527–528 (1 September 2008) | doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.251

Nanomaterials: Nano-selenium captures mercury

Nicholas Ralston

Elemental mercury released in enclosed environments such as homes or offices is potentially harmful, but no products are currently available for diminishing mercury exposures following breakage of everyday items such as compact fluorescent lights. Consumer products to reduce airborne mercury contamination could easily be created if effective sorbents were identified, particularly those that exploit the increased surface areas of the nanoscale versions of these materials.