Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created tiny nanoblades made out of magnesium. They used oblique angle deposition, which was previously thought to always create cylindrical structures like nanorods or nanosprings.

These blades are practically two-dimensional, with a thickness of only 15 nanometers. Now the researchers are looking for ways to coat these nanoblades with metallic catalysts so they can be used as high-density storage for hydrogen fuel cells.