File Name : figures1.pdf

Caption : fig. s1 sem images of mgo crystals (a) unreacted surface; reacted for (b) 48 hours at 50oc, (c) 96 hours at 50oc, (d) 48 hours at 150oc, and (e) 96 hours at 150oc.

File Name : figures2.pdf

Caption : fig. s2 contact angle measurements on mgo exposed to air for 27 years.

File Name : figures3.pdf

Caption : fig. s3 contact angle measurements on freshly cleaved mgo.

File Name : figures4.pdf

Caption : fig. s4 raman characterization of mgo reacted in vapor for 150°c for 2 days. two different locations on the sample were measured. a) and c) show light microscopy images of the measurement position, which is in the center of the image. b and d show raman spectra with peak positions typical for brucite at 278 and 443 cm-1 matching literature data.