Some scientists have found out a way to create chains of carbon from laser melted graphite, this material is called carbyne, that could have a number of properties, that could adjust the electrical current amount that should travel through a circuit.

It is thought to be a subject of intense research as its presence in astrophysical bodies and will  have a potential use under nanoelectrical device systems. Its linear shape will provide a unique electrical properties that are sensitive to stretching and bending.  It has proven to be 40 times stiff than diamond.

Using computer simulations, LLNL scientist Nir Goldman and colleague Christopher Cannella  have study the properties of liquid carbon as it evaporates,  by shining a laser beam on the surface of graphite. To their surprise, as the liquid droplet evaporated and cooled in their simulations, it formed bundles of linear chains of carbon atoms.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about how to make carbyne and how stable it is,” Goldman said. “We showed that laser melting of graphite is one viable avenue for its synthesis. If you regulate carbyne synthesis in a controlled way, it could have applications as a new material for a number of different research areas, including as a tunable semiconductor or even for hydrogen storage.