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Long-hypothesized β€˜next-generation wonder material’ created for first time

Long-hypothesized β€˜next-generation wonder material’ created for first time

Crystal structure of a layer of graphyne. Image: Yiming Hu.

For over a decade, scientists have attempted to synthesize a new form of carbon called graphyne with limited success. That endeavor, though, is now at an end, thanks to new research from Wei Zhang’s lab at CU ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ.

Graphyne has long been of interest to scientists because of its similarities to the β€œwonder material” grapheneβ€”another form of carbon that earned the 2010 Nobel Prize in physics.

However, despite decades of work, only a few fragments had ever been created before now.

This new research fills a longstanding gap in carbon material science, potentially opening brand new possibilities for electronics, optics and semiconducting material research.

β€œThis could be the next-generation wonder material,” Zhang said. β€œThat’s why people are very excited.”

Principal investigator
Yiming Hu

Funding
National Science Foundation (NSF); National Natural Science Foundation of China

Collaboration + support
JILA; Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center; Qingdao University of Science and Technology