In a groundbreaking study published in ACS Nano, researchers at Penn State have discovered that borophene, a two-dimensional material thinner and more conductive than graphene, now has the added property of chirality. Borophene is also lighter, stronger, and more flexible than graphene. This new development could lead to advancements in sensors and implantable medical devices, as chirality allows borophene to interact uniquely with biological units like cells and protein precursors.
Dipanjan Pan led the team that conducted the study. According to him, borophene is a highly intriguing material due to its similarities to carbon in terms of atomic weight and electron structure, but with even more exceptional properties. The addition of chirality could open up new possibilities for the material. This novel research has the potential to revolutionize the field of nanotechnology and pave the way for innovative technologies in the future.
Chirality refers to the asymmetry in physicality seen in molecules, such as the difference between left and right hands. This quality creates two versions of biological or chemical units that cannot perfectly match each other, similar to left and right mittens. While they can mirror each other accurately, a left mitten will never fit the right hand as well as it fits the left hand. The addition of chirality to borophene structures allows for unique interactions with biological units like cells and protein precursors, which could lead to advancements in various fields such as medicine and materials science.