Scientists discover single-walled carbon nanotubes, graphitic carbon in Chang'e 6 lunar samples

BEIJING -- Researchers have recently identified and confirmed the natural occurrence of single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphitic carbon in lunar samples collected by the Chang'e 6 mission, offering key insights into the moon's geological evolution, the China National Space Administration announced on Tuesday.

A team from Jilin University in Northeast China conducted a systematic analysis of samples from the lunar far side using multiple microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Their study marks the first unambiguous identification of graphite carbon on the moon, along with an investigation into its likely process of formation and evolution.

The study represents the first international confirmation that single-walled carbon nanotubes can form naturally without human intervention. These findings highlight the sophistication of high-energy physico-chemical processes on the lunar surface and provide evidence of more active geological processes on the moon's far side.

The research suggests that the formation of these carbon nanotubes may be closely tied to iron-catalyzed reactions driven by a combination of factors, including micrometeorite impacts, volcanic activity and solar wind irradiation throughout lunar history. This reveals nature's capacity to synthesize advanced materials under extreme conditions.

In a comparative study involving Chang'e 6 far-side lunar samples and Chang'e 5 near-side samples, the team also observed more distinct defect features in the carbon structures of the far-side material, a difference potentially linked to a history of more intense micrometeorite bombardment on the lunar far side. This finding further points to a newly recognized asymmetry in composition and evolution between the moon's near and far sides.

The related findings were recently published in the journal Nano Letters.