Alkyne metathesis: Researchers produce graphin for the first time – a structure with special properties

According to the University of Colorado Boulder the researcher Wei Zhang and his team have succeeded for the first time in using a previously only simulated material called graphine to create. A similarity to graphene is not only found in the name: also graphin is a 2D materialwhich is said to be characterized by a particularly high level of conductivity, among other things.

Interesting properties

However, while graphene consists exclusively of repeating carbon rings, graphin is somewhat more complex. Here, too, there are carbon rings in hexagonal form (benzene), but these do not continue indefinitely. Instead, as shown above, the rings are joined in each direction by two carbon atoms with a triple bond in between

So far, this more complex structure could only be simulated, but not produced. Wei Zhang has now apparently succeeded, by means of alkyne metathesis to create a graphin structure for the first time. The hope that the material will be used in the future is obviously high:

“There’s a pretty big difference (between graphene and graphin) but in a good way. This could be the next-generation miracle material. That’s why people are very excited.” [Wei Zhang]

Also exciting: Superconducting Computing: Researchers discover a superconductor that only conducts electricity in one direction

Compared to graphene, which has been synthesized for some time, graphin could have the advantage that the high conductivity of the material can be directional in certain cases. That would be necessary in order to build digital circuits with the material and not just good conductors, as is already possible with graphene, for example.

With the manufacturing process that has now been developed, it will hopefully soon be possible to carry out corresponding experiments to confirm this property. Even if that works, there is still a long way to go before market maturity. The production of graphin is apparently not yet suitable for mass production, which would also be very surprising for a first synthesis. Here, too, further research work is likely to be necessary.

Source: Phys.org via golem