“Small yet rigid crystals showed the ability to quickly re-form their broken bonds, and as a result fail ‘gracefully’ — that is, gradually rather than suddenly,” graduate student Keten explains.

The interaction between simple diatomic molecules such as CO and transition metal surfaces may lead to breaking and making chemical bonds and trigger important surface catalyzed reactions.

There are two basic methods for breaking the bonds in saltwater: thermal distillation and membrane separation.