Ultralong sheathed single-metal-atom chains synthesized under high pressure
Single-metal-atom chains (SMACs) represent the ultimate limit of one-dimensional nanostructures. They serve as archetypal model systems for condensed matter physics and constitute fundamental building blocks for next-generation nanoelectronics. However, synthesis of SMACs suitable for practical applications remains challenging. In this work, we create micrometer-long, carbon-sheathed copper SMACs at milligram scale by compressing β-copper phthalocyanine to above 21 gigapascals. The SMACs are in atom-scale ordering, are isolable through acid-assisted exfoliation, and exhibit exceptional stability, with Cu-Cu distance confined at 2.57 angstroms. Anisotropic conductance and antiferromagnetic interactions are suggested by experimental and computational results. This work establishes a universal synthetic strategy for sheathed SMACs, positioning them as a compelling platform for prospective electronic and spintronic applications.
Authors
- Xiao Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4533-1914)
- Chengyu Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1947-5543)
- Jie Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7821-4808)
- HongFei Ma
- Shang‐Da Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0204-9601)
- Jingqin Xu
- Junliang Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4074-0962)
- Haiyan Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4727-5912)
- Yan Duan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2849-5602)
- Xudong Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9104-2315)
- Ho‐kwang Mao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0481-5683)
- Yi Xie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6884-2851)
- Kuo Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4859-6099)
- Yajie Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3481-7620)
- Yongjin Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2540-6376)
- Yunfan Fei
- Puyi Lang
- Shengchao Qiu
- Zilin Zhao
- Fang Yuan
- Xin Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1829-8203)
- Yikun Bao
- Fang Li
- Jiarui Yuan
- Qingchao Zeng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9672-2763)
- Hao Luo
Institutions
- Peking University (CN)
- Nankai University (CN)
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (CN)
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (CN)
- Institute of Applied Physics (RU)
- South China University of Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2026-08-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aeg0028
- Primary Topic
- Surface Chemistry and Catalysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China