April 28, 2024

Möbius Carbon Nanobelt: A Möbius Strip Constructed Solely of Carbon Atoms

” The Möbius carbon nanobelt was a dream particle in the clinical neighborhood after we reported the very first chemical synthesis of a carbon nanobelt– an ultra-short carbon nanotube– in 2017. Such a twisted Möbius carbon nanobelt ought to manifest quite molecular motions and different residential or commercial properties compared to those with a regular belt topology. The logical synthetic path was identified by utilizing the theoretical analysis of the substantial pressure obtained from both the belt-shape and twisted molecular structure of Möbius carbon nanobelt. Spectroscopic analysis and molecular characteristics simulation expose that the twist moiety of the Möbius band moves quickly around the Möbius carbon nanobelt particle in service.

A brand-new synthesis method develops a belt-shaped molecular nanocarbon with a twisted Möbius band topology, i.e., a Möbius carbon nanobelt. Credit: Issey Takahashi
Scientists have constructed the very first belt-shaped molecular nanocarbon with a twisted Möbius band topology– a Möbius carbon nanobelt– that leads the way for the advancement of nanocarbon products with complex topological structures.
Obtaining structurally consistent nanocarbons– preferably as single particles– is a terrific obstacle in the field of nanocarbon science in order to appropriately relate structure and function. Therefore, the synthesis of structurally consistent nanocarbons is crucial for the development of practical products in nanotechnology, electronic devices, optics, and biomedical applications.
An important tool for achieving this objective is molecular nanocarbon science, which is a bottom-up technique to producing nanocarbons utilizing artificial organic chemistry. The molecular nanocarbons manufactured prior to now have simple structures, such as that of a ring, bowl, or belt. In order to understand undiscovered and in theory anticipated nanocarbons, it is needed to establish new methods for synthesizing molecular nanocarbons with more complex structures.

Now, a team of researchers led by Kenichiro Itami (Professor, Nagoya University), and Yasutomo Segawa (Associate Professor, Institute for Molecular Science) and Yuh Hijikata, (Specially Appointed Associate Professor, ICReDD) has actually synthesized a belt-shaped molecular nanocarbon with a twisted Möbius band topology, i.e., a Möbius carbon nanobelt.
” The Möbius carbon nanobelt was a dream particle in the clinical neighborhood after we reported the very first chemical synthesis of a carbon nanobelt– an ultra-short carbon nanotube– in 2017. Such a twisted Möbius carbon nanobelt should manifest quite molecular movements and different residential or commercial properties compared to those with a regular belt geography. “We knew from our previous synthesis of carbon nanobelts that the strain energy is the greatest obstacle in the synthesis.
The logical synthetic route was determined by using the theoretical analysis of the big pressure obtained from both the belt-shape and twisted molecular structure of Möbius carbon nanobelt. Spectroscopic analysis and molecular characteristics simulation expose that the twist moiety of the Möbius band moves quickly around the Möbius carbon nanobelt particle in option.
Recalling in history, brand-new kinds of carbon and nanocarbons have consistently opened doors to brand-new science and technology and have caused the discovery of amazing (and frequently unpredictable) homes, functions, and applications. The present work is a pioneering achievement that leads the way for the development of nanocarbon products with intricate topological structures and the birth of ingenious products science using Möbius topology.
Referral: “Synthesis of a Möbius carbon nanobelt” by Yasutomo Segawa, Tsugunori Watanabe, Kotono Yamanoue, Motonobu Kuwayama, Kosuke Watanabe, Jenny Pirillo, Yuh Hijikata and Kenichiro Itami, 19 May 2022, Nature Synthesis.DOI: 10.1038/ s44160-022-00075-8.

By Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University
May 28, 2022