Using extreme pressure (over 21 gigapascals), researchers have created one of the longest single-atom copper chains to date. They started with copper phthalocyanine (a compound used in blue pigment) and transformed its crystals into copper atomic chains encased in a carbon sheath. Each chain, stretching for micrometers, consists of more than 4,000 copper atoms — two to three orders of magnitude longer than previous records. The structure exhibits strong anisotropy: electricity flows easily along the wire but resists moving sideways. While the process currently requires extreme conditions, the findings suggest high-pressure synthesis could be a promising route for developing ultralong atomic wires for molecular electronics.
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