Brief
University of Gothenburg creates porous carbon allotrope diamondiyne
The new material forms a three‑dimensional network of tetrahedra without requiring high pressure.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have synthesized a porous carbon allotrope called diamondiyne, a structure that was only described in theory until now, scitechdaily.com reported on 15 October 2026.
Using relatively inexpensive equipment, the team joined carbon atoms through triple bonds, producing a thin film where two liquids meet. Electron microscopy at Stockholm University confirmed the crystal pattern in tiny patches on the film’s surface. The material crystallises into a network of tetrahedra that connect corner‑to‑corner in all three dimensions, creating voids that give it a porous character. The team managed to produce repeating patterns of diamondiyne in a volume measuring about 10 nanometres on each side, and the observed patterns matched theoretical models.
"The structure creates voids between the tetrahedra. The carbon allotrope can therefore be compared to a porous diamond. But unlike diamonds, diamondiyne does not require high pressure to make the carbon atoms bond to one another," said Karl Börjesson, professor of physical chemistry at the University of Gothenburg and leader of the research team. He added, "We have at least managed to produce repeating patterns of diamondiyne in a volume measuring 10 nanometers on each side, and the images of the patterns correspond well with the theoretical models." Börjesson explained that the discovery grew out of a long‑term effort to create porous carbon frameworks without metal ions, a class of materials known as covalent organic frameworks (COFs). He noted that COFs differ from metal‑organic frameworks (MOFs), which earned the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Theoretical chemists had listed diamondiyne among many possible carbon allotropes decades ago. A colleague directed Börjesson to a website compiling such predictions, and the team’s work finally realised the concept. "It has taken us an incredibly long time, but we finally succeeded. I am very pleased," Börjesson said.
Key facts
- Diamondiyne is a newly created porous carbon allotrope. (scitechdaily.com)
- The material forms a three‑dimensional network of tetrahedra linked by triple bonds. (scitechdaily.com)
- Electron microscopy confirmed the crystal structure only in surface patches. (scitechdaily.com)
- The team produced repeating patterns in a volume about 10 nanometres on each side. (scitechdaily.com)
- Diamondiyne was first theorised 35 years ago. (scitechdaily.com)
Sources
- [1] scitechdaily.com — originally reported as “Scientists Discover a New Cousin of Diamond That Was Thought To Exist Only in Theory”
