Understanding how matter behaves at the atomic scale is crucial for developing the materials of the future. According to the scientists, quantum mechanical effects, such as electron movement, atomic vibrations, and energy band structures, shape how materials conduct electricity, respond to magnetic fields, transmit light, or withstand mechanical stress.
To better understand these mechanisms, the scientists revisited a surprising discovery made nine years ago by Thomas Pichler, PhD, a physics professor at the University of Vienna, and head of the research group.
At the time, Pichler and his team managed to stabilize carbyne, an ultra-thin chain of carbon atoms, inside carbon nanotubes, for the first time, marking a breakthrough that stunned the scientific community.