Scientists have been attempting to synthesise a novel type of carbon called graphyne for over a decade with little success. However, University of Colorado Boulder researchers have finally succeeded in producing the elusive carbon allotrope. This study closes a long-standing gap in carbon material science and offers up entirely new avenues for research in electronics, optics, and semiconductors.
The researchers published their findings in Nature Synthesis under the heading “Synthesis of -graphyne utilising dynamic covalent chemistry.” Because of the element’s versatility and utility in numerous industries, scientists have long been interested in the synthesis of distinct carbon allotropes (forms).
Carbon allotropes can be built in a variety of ways, depending on how carbon hybrids and their associated bonds are used. Graphite, which is used in pencils, and diamonds are two of the most well-known allotropes. They’re made of’sp2′ carbon and’sp3′ carbon, respectively.
Over the years, scientists have employed traditional methods to generate a variety of allotropes, including fullerene and graphene. In 1996 and 2010, researchers working on these materials were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Unfortunately, these approaches do not allow for the large-scale synthesis of distinct forms of carbon, which is essential for the production of graphyne. Because of this stumbling block, graphyne remained a theoretical substance with unknown electrical, mechanical, and optical properties.
Researchers in the field approached Wei Zhang, the research article’s co-author, and his lab group. Zhang is a chemistry professor at CU Boulder who specialises in reversible chemistry.
Reversible chemistry allows bonds to self-correct, allowing new types of ‘lattices’ (ordered structures) to be created, such as synthetic polymers that imitate DNA.
The researchers used an alkyne metathesis method, as well as thermodynamics and kinetic control, to build a new type of material with conductivity comparable to graphene but with more control. Alkyne Metathesis is an organic reaction in which alkyne chemical bonds are redistributed (cutting and forming). Alkynes are hydrocarbons having at least one triple covalent bond between carbon and carbon.
The material has been created successfully. However, the team needs to look into a lot more specifics, such as how to make it on a wide scale and how to manipulate it for various use cases.
