In a breakthrough discovery, researchers have created two-faced graphene nanoribbons that could lead to the development of the first purely carbon-based ferromagnets. Ferromagnets are materials that are capable of being magnetized and are commonly used in products such as credit cards, magnetic hooks, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. Traditional ferromagnets are typically made from metal alloys, but the new discovery could pave the way for the creation of ferromagnets made entirely from carbon.
The two-faced graphene nanoribbons were created by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Pennsylvania. The nanoribbons have a unique two-dimensional structure that allows them to have both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic properties, which is essential for the creation of ferromagnets. The researchers believe that the discovery could have significant implications for the development of new electronic devices and medical technologies.