In a groundbreaking discovery, naturally occurring few-layer graphene was found in lunar samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-5 probe. These samples, totaling 1,731 grams, were obtained from a younger region of the lunar surface that contains volcanic rocks. The Jilin University research team estimates that about 1.9 percent of interstellar carbon exists in the form of graphene, which can provide valuable information on geological evolution and resource utilization.
Graphene is known for its high conductivity and lightness and is widely used in sectors such as energy and electronics. The researchers found areas with high carbon content in the lunar samples and confirmed the presence of high-quality crystallized graphite carbon. These areas also contained iron compounds believed to be connected to the formation of graphene.
Through observation and analysis, the team identified that the graphite carbon in lunar samples exists as a few-layer graphene. The researchers suggest that the formation of this graphene may be linked to mineral catalytic processes induced by the solar wind and early volcanic eruptions on the moon. This groundbreaking research has been recently published in National Science Review.
