Carbon nanothreads are one-dimensional sp<sup>3</sup> polymers produced by the pressure-induced polymerization of unsaturated molecules at gigapascal (GPa) pressures. Their columnar-like diamondoid structure allows them to pack in a pseudohexagonal crystalline lattice while also giving them a high predicted tensile strength and flexibility. Whereas a few examples of carbon nanothreads have been reported, the need for high initiation pressures (≥17 GPa) to synthesize them precludes scalability and limits scope. Herein, we will discuss furan-derived carbon nanothreads, which are synthetically available at reduced pressures owing to furan’s lessened aromaticity relative to other molecular precursors. Evidence of polymerization is observed in situ by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Calculated infrared vibrational modes, MALDI-FTICR MS, CID fragmentation, and solid-state NMR each provide evidence that furan-derived nanothreads have formed through a series of [4+2] cycloaddition reactions.

Furan-derived carbon nanothreads: Synthesis, characterization, and atomic-level structure determination

ACS Fall 2021

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