New Carbon structure better than Graphene?

Not so long ago, we all heard about the great properties of Graphene. Every source of information was announcing a revolutionary discovery that could change our reality. Indeed, it could accomplish this thanks to its structure’s outstanding strength, flexibility, and conductivity. But Graphene is not the only nanocarbon with promising possibilities of application.

To explain it clearly, there is one more structure of Carbon that attracts scientists’ attention since decades. This discovery could be even more revolutionary than Graphene. Unfortunately, a fundamental problem occurred – nobody was able to find the solution to making the third nanocarbon structure. Until now, we have had knowledge about two kinds but many of scientists expected the third form with unique properties applicable in batteries or catalysts.

Accidental breakthrough

After years of research, the theoretical structure was accidentally created by scientists in South Korea and Japan. Today we call it schwarzites. Unfortunately, the Discovery was ignored until chemists from University of California in Berkeley noticed unusual structure. They found a way to create it and, what is even more important, they can carry out more research about its properties.

The scientists worked out the “recipe’’ to create the new structure. Crucial components of the process were zeolites, minerals often used to soften water in laundry detergents. Appropriate application and process carried out with precision allow obtaining the new material. Its structure’s optimisation can highly benefit science. Previous discoveries of the new Carbon forms resulted in amazing technological revolutions and were awarded two Nobel prices.

Although the ways of application of schwartzites are not known yet, there are many theories about it. Carbon can already be transformed not only into diamonds but also into the graphite and Graphene. When it comes to schwartzites, due to its electronic, magnetic and optical properties, the new structure probably could find its usage in the electronics department or fossil fuel industries.