Scientists at the University of Massachusetts have discovered a new form of carbon. Referred to as U-carbon (unknown carbon), the material has some very interesting properties. It is harder than steel, conductive and it is as reflective as polished silver or aluminium. It is also magnetic.

The U-carbon was formed in a chemical vapour deposition oven from dimethylbutane, a cheap industrial petrochemical. The oven was heated to 800oC and the U-carbon was deposited on a copper catalyst.

Much more work needs to be completed, but it looks to have a variety of potential uses. The fact that a new allotrope (others are diamond, graphite and graphene) of carbon has been made by a very specific process suggest that there may be more to be found. And possibly for materials other than carbon.

I would expect that, as for graphene, it will be many years before it comes into commercial use. And even when it does, it is unlikely to replace graphene.

 

U_carbon

Suggested structure of U-carbon. Image Courtesy Sciencemag

26 November 2019 Commodities