A study resulting from a collaboration between the Department of Energy and the Department of Physics at Politecnico di Milano and the Department of Chemistry at University of Bologna has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society as the cover article.

The team of researchers has made a discovery that sheds new light on the properties of wire-shaped carbon nanostructures, also known as polyynes. These wires, composed of just a few carbon atoms, could revolutionise technological applications thanks to their extraordinary mechanical, thermal and electronic properties.

At the heart of the research is the investigation of how these nanostructures react to light. Using state-of-the-art technology and ultra-short laser pulses, the researchers synthesised these structures in a controlled manner and examined their optical properties in detail. This allowed them to reveal the secrets of the reactions triggered by light in these nanostructures.

The most surprising results emerge from the speed of the processes observed. In particular, when hit by light, these nanostructures rapidly switch from an excited state to a more stable state, all in an incredibly short time, just 200 millionths of a billionth of a second.

This discovery has important technological implications. Understanding how these nanostructures react to light could pave the way for new applications such as advanced electronic devices and solar energy conversion technologies.

This study lays the groundwork for new technological possibilities. Understanding how these nanostructures interact with light is crucial to fully exploit their potential in areas such as optoelectronics and renewable energy,

explain Giulio Cerullo and Margherita Zavelani-Rossi, co-authors of the paper.

Carbon nanostructure research is a complex and promising field. Our results represent a step forward in the understanding of these structures and their potential applications,

adds Carlo Casari, co-author of the paper.

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The study is available online: “Disclosing Early Excited State Relaxation Events in Prototypical Linear Carbon Chains”.