We all love graphene - the one-atom-thick sheets of carbon aren't just super flexible, harder than diamond, and stronger than steel, they've also recently become superconductors in their own right.
But it's not the only over-achieving nanomaterial out there. Researchers have just simulated a stretched out, one-dimensional (1D) chain of boron, predicting that the material could have even weirder properties than graphene.
To be clear, 1D boron chains haven't been created as yet - so far, this research is purely based on detailed computer simulations of the new material.
But labs have already successfully synthesised atom-thick and fullerene - cage-like buckyball - forms of boron, and single-atom-thick-carbon chains known as carbyne (pictured above) have also been created. So the researchers predict it's only a matter of time before 1D boron-atom chains become a reality too.
If that's the case, we're in for a treat, because the simulations show that when 1D forms of boron are made, they have some pretty incredible properties.
For example, when they're stretched out, these metallic chains become antiferromangetic semiconductors - meaning a non-magnetic metal that can conduct electricity with zero resistance. And when they're released, they fold up back into neat two-atom-thick ribbons.
The material also is predicted to have mechanical stiffness on par with the highest-performing nanomaterials known to science.
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