The atoms in the new structure are arranged in a hexagonal pattern as in graphene, but that is where the similarity ends. The three elements forming the new material all have different sizes; the bonds connecting the atoms are also different. As a result, the sides of the hexagons formed by these atoms are unequal, unlike in graphene. Credit: Madhu Menon
Truly flat and extremely stable, the material is made up of light, inexpensive and earth abundant elements. The new material is made up of silicon, boron and nitrogen. “We used simulations to see if the bonds would break or disintegrate – it didn’t happen,” said Madhu Menon,UK Center for Computational Sciences. “We heated the material up to 1,000 degree Celsius and it still didn’t break.”
While graphene is touted as being the world’s stron...
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