Extreme pressure turns blue pigment into record-long single-atom copper chains
As the electronics in our technology keep shrinking, traditional silicon-based chips are approaching their fundamental physical limits. Yet the wires connecting them might be able to shrink beyond conventional dimensions, as scientists have created one of the longest single-atom copper chains to date that could serve as molecular wires.
Scientists have created one of the longest single-atom copper chains ever, measuring over 4,000 atoms strung into a single copper atom chain, according to new research. The study, published in Science, demonstrates the creation of these chains under extreme high pressure, pushing beyond the limits of traditional silicon-based chips in electronics.
The researchers converted copper phthalocyanine, a compound used to create the blue pigment phthalo blue, into copper atomic chains by increasing pressure to more than 21 gigapascals. These chains, known as single-metal-atom chains (sSMACs), are encased in a carbon sheath, resembling a power cord at the atomic scale. The unique structure consists of three layers: a core of copper atoms, a conductive carbon-nitrogen ring, and an outer protective carbon sheath.
The chains exhibited strong anisotropy, allowing electricity to flow easily along the wire but with difficulty sideways. The copper atoms in these chains do not conduct electricity directly; instead, it is the overlapping carbon and nitrogen atoms in the protective ring framework that facilitate the electrical current. These remarkable single-atom chains hold promise for advancing our understanding of matter at the smallest scales and could potentially lead to new applications in electronics, magnetism, and catalysis.
However, the production process requires extreme pressures, which could pose challenges for scaling up to industrial levels.
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