One of the major challenges in material science has been creating materials that are both strong and durable. While substances like graphene have extraordinary strength, they tend to fracture easily under pressure. However, a breakthrough has emerged in the form of a new material known as monolayer amorphous carbon (MAC), which offers a surprising solution to this problem. MAC has been found to be eight times tougher than graphene, thanks to its innovative design that blends both crystalline and amorphous structures.

MAC, like graphene, is a 2D material—just one atom thick—yet its internal structure differs significantly from that of graphene. Graphene consists of a highly ordered, crystalline hexagonal lattice, making it extremely strong but also vulnerable to cracks once they start. In contrast, MAC combines ordered crystalline regions within an amorphous matrix, a combination that enhances its resistance to cracking and fracture propagation. This hybrid structure allows the material to absorb more energy and maintain its integrity under stress.

The key to MAC’s toughness lies in its unique composite nature. The presence of both ordered and disordered regions within the material prevents cracks from spreading easily. When a crack attempts to form, the disordered regions act as barriers, absorbing energy and distributing stress in a way that reduces the likelihood of catastrophic failure. This discovery opens up new possibilities for making 2D materials more reliable and practical for real-world applications, such as electronics, energy storage systems, and advanced sensors.

Researchers at Rice University employed cutting-edge imaging techniques to study how MAC behaves under stress. Using real-time observations through scanning electron microscopy, they were able to track the formation and propagation of cracks at a microscopic level. These observations, combined with molecular dynamics simulations from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, provided new insights into how the combination of crystalline and amorphous regions impacts the material’s overall toughness.

This breakthrough challenges previous approaches to toughening 2D materials, which typically involved adding external reinforcement or modifying the material’s internal structure in ways that could compromise its original properties. Instead, MAC’s internal composite structure offers a more integrated solution, eliminating the need for extra layers or reinforcements. This approach could lead to a new era of 2D materials that are both strong and durable, expanding the potential applications of nanomaterials in industries ranging from electronics to wearable technologies.

With this discovery, scientists are hopeful that further innovations in material design will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, creating more resilient and efficient materials for the future.

By Impact Lab