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The research team discovered natural graphene in lunar soil samples

2024-06-26 10:23

The reporter learned from Jilin University that Zou Meng, Professor Zhang Wei, Senior Engineer Li Xiujuan, and Ren Wenchai, a researcher at the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered naturally formed graphene through observation and analysis of Chang'e-5 drilling debris lunar soil. This breakthrough discovery is the first in the world.

This study provides new insights into the geological activity and evolution history of the moon, as well as the environmental characteristics of the moon, and broadens human understanding of the complex mineral composition of lunar soil. Carbon is a fundamental element for understanding the formation and evolution of planetary bodies. It is estimated that about 1.9% of the total interstellar carbon exists in the form of graphene, and the morphology and properties of graphene are determined by specific formation processes. Therefore, the composition and structural characteristics of natural graphene will provide important references and information for the geological evolution of celestial bodies and the in-situ resource utilization of the moon.

It is worth noting that the regions with carbon in the lunar soil samples contain iron compounds, which are closely related to the formation of graphene. Through the comprehensive application of various characterization techniques and rigorous comparative analysis of test results, the research team has explored and confirmed that the detected graphite carbon in lunar soil samples is a few layered graphene (2-7 layers). Based on the comprehensive test results and data analysis, they proposed the formation mechanism of few layer graphene and graphite carbon, that is, the formation of graphite carbon may originate from the mineral catalytic process induced by the solar wind and early lunar volcanic eruptions.

The first discovery and mechanism exploration of natural graphene in lunar soil supports the view that the moon contains carbon, confirms the hypothesis that the moon contains graphene, and provides important references in materials science and inorganic chemistry for future lunar exploration projects, inspiring the utilization of in-situ resources on the moon.

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