Cobalt: A must-have element for life and livelihood

Linnaeite Mineral for NIR Light-Triggered Disruption of Alzheimer’s Pore-Forming Aβ Oligomers

“…Note that we could not detect hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen from the NIR-excited linnaeite nanoparticle solutions. These results suggest that NIR-excited linnaeite nanoparticles induced the oxidative modification of the Aβ peptides constituting the βPFOs through the charge transfer reactions, which may be facilitated by the characteristics of the linnaeite’s cobalt and sulfur elements. ,− …”

“…Minerals have been considered the origin of life on the primitive Earth because of their chemical capacity to facilitate the prebiotic synthesis of organic molecules. − Various minerals derived from metamorphic reactions within the Earth’s crust have contributed to the maintenance and restoration of ecosystems by cycling the natural compounds through biogeochemical interactions (e.g., Lewis acid–base, van der Waals). − In particular, cobalt mineral has received much attention as an important polymerization agent by modulating carbon–carbon coupling in an aqueous environment. , Also, sulfide mineral contributes to the microbial metabolism as an efficient electron-transfer mediator. , …”

“…Linnaeite is a cobalt sulfide mineral (Co 2+ Co 3+ 2 S 4 ) that affects the biogeochemical cycles in hydrothermal veins around the world. , Linnaeite mineral has a cubic spinel structure consisting of Co 2+ S 4 tetrahedral and edge-sharing Co 3+ S 6 octahedral units, which promote mass and electron transfer through the orbital overlap . Because of the catalytic activity of the spinel structure, linnaeite mineral has attracted intensive interest as an efficient resource for improving the quality of life, such as hydrogen gas generators, , lithium battery capacitors, , and organic pollutant decomposers. , Moreover, linnaeite mineral is composed of essential trace elements for maintaining physiological homeostasis of the human body, , suggesting the potential for medicinal use.…”

“…4−6 In particular, cobalt mineral has received much attention as an important polymerization agent by modulating carbon−carbon coupling in an aqueous environment. 7,8 Also, sulfide mineral contributes to the microbial metabolism as an efficient electron-transfer mediator. 5,9 Linnaeite is a cobalt sulfide mineral (Co 2+ Co 3+ 2 S 4 ) that affects the biogeochemical cycles in hydrothermal veins around the world.…”

Guite, the spinel-structured Co2+Co3+2O4, a new mineral from the Sicomines copper–cobalt mine, Democratic Republic of Congo

“…Cobalt is a relatively rare but important metal widely used in production of super alloys, special steel, carbides, diamond tools, magnets, rechargeable batteries and many others (USGS, 2022). It also plays a vital catalytic role in life evolution and biochemical synthesis (He et al , 2021; Russell, 2022). In 2020, the worldwide mine production of cobalt amounted to 140,000 metric tons, with the biggest producer being the Democratic Republic of Congo (~95,000 tons), followed by Russia, Australia, Philippines, Cuba and Canada (Statista, 2021).…”