Researchers at the University of Warwick and the University of Lille, have demonstrated how using carbon nanotubes to compress a cluster-based compound into forming an entirely new one-dimensional material. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, can be found here:
Faulques, E., Ivanov, V. G., Cordier, S., Kashtiban, R. J., Molard, Y., Duvail, J.-L., Kalashnyk, N., & Sloan, J. (2025). Differential Packing of Cs 2 Mo 6 Br 14 Cluster-Based Halide in Variable Diameter Carbon Nanotubes with Elimination and Polymerization to 1D [Mo 2 Br 6 ] x Ising Model Structures by Steric Confinement. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 147(9), 7345–7359. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c14883
In the study, the compound Cs2Mo6Br14 was introduced into carbon nanotubes with diameters as small as 10 Ångstroms. With the inner dimensions of the nanotubes being smaller than the compound’s own structure, the confined environment triggered a breakdown process known as elimination. This process led to the formation of a new, smaller compound, [Mo₂Br₆]ₓ, arranged in a linked, chain-like structure within the tube.
The resulting material is not only smaller but also exhibits a one-dimensional Ising-like structure. Each unit in the chain interacts only with its two immediate neighbors, similar to how bar magnets align with one another. This behaviour can be used potentially in quantum computing and molecular electronics, where binary (on/off) states play a crucial role.
Dr. Jeremy Sloan, Reader in Electron Microscopy at the University of Warwick and senior author of the study, explained that the work shows how severe spatial constraints can drive unexpected chemical transformations. He noted:
“This research is unique and important in two different respects. In the first instance, we see how confinement of an inorganic cluster-based material in narrow nanotubes causes that material, in a steric or confined structural limit, to eliminate or shed some of its chemicals to form a polymerized inorganic compound. Secondly, and serendipitously, the inorganic polymer has a 1D Ising-like structure, which is of great interest in statistical physics and in forming ferromagnetic arrays with potential utility in information storage at the atomic level.”
The study highlights nanoconfinement as a promising method for synthesizing materials with tailored electrical and magnetic properties. By understanding and controlling the effects of extreme compression, researchers hope to develop novel nanomaterials that could be used in data storage and other advanced technologies.
The study was made possible through the collaborative efforts of a diverse team of experts. Eric Faulques, Victor G. Ivanov, Stéphane Cordier, Reza J. Kashtiban, Yann Molard, Jean-Luc Duvail, Nataliya Kalashnyk, and Jeremy Sloan each contributed their specialised knowledge; from innovative synthesis techniques and experimental design to advanced structural characterisation and data analysis.
Hassan graduated with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Chester (UK). He currently works as a design engineering consultant for one of the largest engineering firms in the world along with being an associate member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
