High Pressure Synthesis of Conductive Hydrocarbon-Derived Carbon Nanothreads

Carbon nanothreads are novel 1D nanomaterials synthesized by compression of aromatic compounds, whose mechanical properties are very similar to those of diamond (stiffness, strength) combined with an extraordinary flexibility. Providing also electrical conductivity is one important missing tile. We propose to synthesize conductive C nanothreads from diphenylacetylene, at 30 GPa and room T, using large volume high pressure assemblies, in order to easily access in situ electrical conductivity measurements and to provide large samples available for standard ex-situ characterization methods of physiochemical properties. In situ XRD and velocity of sound measurements will be performed to characterize the structural and compressional properties along the synthesis P path for adding insight to the synthesis protocol.