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A comment on Evidence for superconductivity above 260 K at megabar pressures (2018). Parent comment

Re:Evidence for superconductivity above 260 K at megabar pre... by bufferoverflow on Monday September 02, 2019 @06:58PM (#20862333)
> Carbon nanotubes are the highest strength material

That we can produce.

I once asked my chemistry teacher if it's possible to make square carbon lattice, and he didn't have an answer.

      |   |   |
    ─ C ─ C ─ C ─  
      |   |   |
    ─ C ─ C ─ C ─  
      |   |   |
    ─ C ─ C ─ C ─  
      |   |   |
EDIT: looks like both Carbyne and boron nanotubes are stronger than carbon nanotubes.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Evidence for superconductivity above 260 K at megabar pre... by VygmraMGVl on Monday September 02, 2019 @07:06PM (#20862363)
A square carbon lattice would be very unstable. Carbon can support up to 4 single bonds, but they have to be arranged in a tetrahedral symmetry (sp3). 4-member carbon rings exist in some compounds, but they are unstable and reactive. Flat carbon sheets exist as graphene, which is a hexagonal grid rather than your square one.
[ Parent | on HN ]