science π¬ China makes longest single-metal atom chains ever
Researchers in China successfully created the longest single-metal-atom chains to date using copper. The scientists achieved this by subjecting a copper phthalocyanine crystal to high pressure, specifically 21.5GPa. These resulting chains stretched over 4000 atoms long, with electrical conductivity coming from the internal carbon layer. The team now plans to test this high-pressure strategy on other metal-phthalocyanine structures like cobalt and nickel. Experts remain cautious about the scalability of this complex, high-pressure synthesis method. π¬