Chang’e-5 samples reveal first-ever discovery of natural graphene

A significant discovery has been made in lunar samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-5 probe, revealing the existence of naturally occurring few-layer graphene for the first time. The samples, totaling 1,731 grams, were collected in December 2020 from a younger region of the lunar surface containing volcanic rocks. According to researchers at Jilin University, about 1.9 percent of total interstellar carbon is in the form of graphene. The morphology and properties of graphene are determined by a specific formation process, providing valuable insight into the geological evolution of celestial bodies.

On Earth, graphene extracted from abundant graphite has various applications in industries such as energy and electronics due to its high conductivity, resistance, and lightness. In the lunar samples, the research team found graphite carbon with relatively high crystallization quality in areas with a high carbon content. These areas also contained iron compounds believed to be linked to the formation of graphene.

By analyzing Raman spectra of the lunar soil samples, the research team confirmed the presence of few-layer graphene, indicating a mineral catalytic process induced by the solar wind and early volcanic eruptions on the moon. This groundbreaking research, conducted by specialists from Jilin University and the Metal Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the support of the Chinese National Space Administration, has been published in National Science Review.