Chinese scientists have found graphene on the Moon: how this will change space missions.

Chinese scientists have discovered multilayer graphene on the Moon

Chinese researchers have found multilayer graphene—thin carbon sheets ranging from two to ten atoms thick—in samples of dust brought back by the 'Chang'e-5' mission. This discovery could adjust theories about the formation of the Moon and impact future plans for utilizing its resources.

This is reported by Earth.

How the finding transforms our understanding of the Moon's formation

The mission collected nearly 1.7 kg of soil in the Oceanus Procellarum region. Upon returning to Earth, the team led by Wei Zhang from Jilin University studied the micron-sized particle using a contactless laser spectrometer and obtained a clear 'imprint' of multilayer graphene: distinct G and 2D bands with a barely noticeable D band, indicating minimal defects. Under an electron microscope, stacks of two to seven layers were found, separated by 0.35 nm, alongside iron nanoparticles that likely catalyzed the formation of carbon during brief heating.

Previously, the Kaguya probe recorded carbon leakage from nearly the entire surface of the Moon, but carbon was scarce in 'Apollo' samples, leading to the belief that the Moon was 'dry'. New data supports the hypothesis that carbon was indeed retained or arrived later. Solar wind, bombarding the airless regolith with protons at approximately 400 km/s, could have transported gaseous carbon, settling on hot iron particles and building graphene shells, with additional heat provided by ancient basaltic eruptions.

Applications of multilayer graphene

The presence of carbon changes not only scientific debates about the gigantic impact 4.51 billion years ago but also engineering calculations. Oxygen facilities that planned to ignore carbon can now convert it into plastics or gases for life support systems. The graphene itself—extremely strong and a good conductor—is capable of enhancing radiation shields, water filters, or supercapacitor electrodes in future lunar bases.

Researchers plan to measure the mechanical and thermal properties of natural sheets to compare them with laboratory analogs. Each new sample will fuel aspirations for an international sample-return program, aiding in the creation of a three-dimensional 'picture' of carbon distribution on the Moon.