Virginia Commonwealth University

Joel Therrien

Puru Jena

Hong Fang

A 3-dimensional crystalline carbon material that is magnetic and metallic under ambient conditions is provided. The material, denominated U-carbon, has been synthesized using the molecular precursor, 3, 3-dimethyl-1-butene (CH). Depending on the atomic connections made between the carbon atoms of the material, U-Carbon forms structures that exhibit semiconducting and nonmagnetic to metallic and ferromagnetic behaviors. The use of selected molecular precursors (such as 3, 3-dimethyl-1-butene CH) that support crystal growth based on clustered rather than individual atoms is a paradigm shift in materials development. Rationally designed metastable materials with desirable properties, including U-Carbon, can have many scientific and technological applications.

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Joel Therrien