Scientists at the University at Albany have made a breakthrough that could change how rockets are fueled in the future.
A team of chemists, led by Assistant Professor Michael Yeung, has successfully created a brand-new chemical compound called manganese diboride (MnB₂).
This material releases much more energy than the metals currently used in rocket fuel, while also being surprisingly safe to handle.
The discovery could make future space missions lighter, cheaper, and more efficient.
In rockets, every bit of weight and space matters. Right now, solid rocket boosters often rely on aluminum as their energy source.
Manganese diboride, however, is a big step forward. It is about 20% more powerful by weight and 150% more powerful by volume compared to aluminum.
That means rockets could carry less fuel but still travel the same distance—or use the saved space for vital equipment, scientific instruments, or even extra room to bring samples back from space missions.
The best part is that this new compound doesn’t ignite on its own. It only burns when mixed with an ignition agent like kerosene, making it much safer than many other high-energy materials.
The compound comes from a family of boron-based chemicals that scientists have long believed might behave in unusual and useful ways. For decades, chemists thought manganese diboride might exist, but no one had been able to make it in a lab—until now.
Yeung’s team achieved this by using a special device called an arc melter, which can heat materials to over 3,000°C (more than 5,000°F).
First, they pressed manganese and boron powders into a small pellet. Then, inside a sealed chamber, they blasted the pellet with a strong electric current until it melted, then quickly cooled it down to “freeze” the structure in place. This intense process forces the manganese atoms to bond with more atoms than usual, creating a tightly packed, spring-like structure that stores a huge amount of energy.
Computer models confirmed what the chemists suspected: the material’s atomic structure is slightly “skewed.” This distortion, called deformation, is the key to why manganese diboride holds so much potential energy.
Yeung compares it to a trampoline. When it’s flat, the trampoline has no energy stored. But if you place a heavy weight in the middle, the stretched surface is full of potential energy, ready to snap back when the weight is removed. In the same way, when this compound ignites, the stored energy is suddenly released in a powerful burst.
Beyond space travel, this discovery could open the door to other uses. The unique boron-based design might also help create longer-lasting catalytic converters for cars or be used to break down plastics more efficiently.
Yeung first became interested in boron compounds while studying at UCLA, where he noticed how unexpectedly energetic they could be. That early curiosity led to the current discovery.
For now, the team is celebrating the fact that manganese diboride can finally be made and studied. What began as a scientific mystery has turned into a practical material with enormous potential.
Whether it’s making rockets lighter and safer or helping to solve problems on Earth, this new compound could be the spark for exciting changes in technology.
