Perhaps the most interesting recent use of Magnesium Chloride is in experimental solar cells, which gives it one more credit for being environmentally friendly as solar energy is the free source of energy and if Magnesium Chloride is helping us get the maximum use out of it, then it deserves its due credit!
The most common form of the cell at the moment makes use of heavy, inflexible silicon panels, but there is a range of cells available that instead are based on the more flexible film that can be as thin as a single micrometre.
Current thin-film cells replace silicon with cadmium telluride, which is then coated with a layer of cadmium chloride, a compound that boosts its otherwise relatively poor efficiency to be comparable with silicon.
But then why is Magnesium Chloride here? Why is it brought in here?- the thing is- unfortunately, cadmium chloride is not a substance that is ideal to use, as it is hazardous during manufacture, and is highly soluble, so if, by a slight chance of error, it dissolves in water and spreads- the aquatic life would be terribly harmed.
To add more to its inadequacy in being a good compound- cadmium chloride is expensive.
Our hero- Magnesium Chloride jumps in and becomes one of the most feasible options to bring the change.
Also since Magnesium Chloride is very mobile and is, therefore, a mobile nutrient it can be effectively used as a substitute for magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt) to help correct magnesium deficiency in plants via foliar feeding.
But even the hero got a few bad pointers- the chlorine is toxic and can easily reach toxic levels if over-applied or applied too often.
Magnesium Chloride might seem like a compound that is limited to dull applications like de-icing, dust removal and even medicine. But with excellent green credentials and a role in making tofu, it should really be an environment-friendly friend’s friend.
We come here with our hero- to help you stay the friend you are to the environment and enjoy the beautiful advantages that our hero gives us!