Reviewed by Frances BriggsAug 5 2025
A brand new atom-thin carbon membrane developed on the Nationwide College of Singapore might remodel proton beams for most cancers remedy and enhance next-gen vitality gadgets, electronics, and molecular filtration applied sciences.
Assoc Prof Lu Jiong (proper) and Dr Lin Huihui (left) have been a part of the multidisciplinary analysis crew that developed a breakthrough carbon materials, utilizing a novel synthesis technique, which has the potential to remodel medical and industrial know-how. Picture Credit score: Nationwide College of Singapore (NUS)
Only one atom thick, the ultra-clean monolayer amorphous carbon (UC-MAC) might outperform present supplies like graphene. It permits for a lot finer management over subatomic particles, significantly protons, which could allow safer, extra exact most cancers remedies utilizing proton remedy.
Revealed in Nature Nanotechnologythe research describes how the membrane’s porous construction reduces proton scattering, permitting sharper, extra targeted beams. That’s important for proton remedy, which targets tumors with high-energy particles whereas sparing wholesome tissue.
A New Class of 2D Carbon
In contrast to graphene’s orderly honeycomb lattice, UC-MAC is made up of an advanced combination of ultra-thin, disordered carbon rings with 5, six, and 7 members.
This atomic-level, “structured” dysfunction varieties angstrom-sized pores, roughly one ten-billionth of a meter broad. UC-MAC could be tuned to filter or direct tiny particles equivalent to protons and molecular hydrogen ions (H2+) as they go via the fabric.
The result’s a membrane that not solely performs higher than graphene or business carbon movies, however can also be a lot thinner and extra selective. When examined by the researchers, UC-MAC lower undesirable proton scattering by almost half in comparison with graphene, and by an element of 40 in comparison with typical carbon movies.
Obstacles and Improvements
Regardless of its prospects, producing it at scale has prevented this materials from widespread implementation. Producing UC-MAC is a gradual, costly course of that steadily introduces metallic impurities, degrading the fabric’s efficiency.
To unravel this, the NUS crew developed a speedy new fabrication technique known as the “disorder-to-disorder” (DTD) method. Utilizing plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, they created an 8-inch sheet of UC-MAC in seconds, with out detectable metallic contamination.
Whereas UC-MAC’s quick promise lies in oncology, its potential functions prolong a lot additional. Its extremely managed porous construction makes it best for vitality storage gadgets like batteries and gas cells, in addition to for catalysis and molecular separation.
The semiconducting properties of UC-MAC movies additionally make them promising candidates for ultra-thin electronics, significantly for sub-2 nm built-in circuits—a important frontier within the post-Moore’s regulation period.
Jiong Lu, Affiliate Professor, Nationwide College of Singapore
By combining atomic precision with a quick, scalable manufacturing technique, the crew has taken an enormous step ahead for the real-world adoption of a fabric that might speed up applied sciences dramatically.
Journal Reference
Lin, H., et al. (2025). Ultraclean monolayer amorphous carbon yields a high-precision proton beam. Nature Nanotechnology. doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-01968-3.
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