First discovery of natural single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphite carbon in Chang'e-6 lunar samples

China's Space official WeChat account reported on January 20 that, through systematic analysis of the lunar soil samples collected by Chang'e-6, China has for the first time discovered and confirmed the presence of naturally occurring single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphite carbon, revealing the fine details of high-energy physical and chemical processes on the lunar surface. This confirms that geological activity on the far side of the Moon is more active, and provides key data for studying the Moon's evolutionary history.

The research conducted by Jilin University combined multiple microscopic and spectroscopic techniques to systematically characterize the lunar samples from the far side collected by Chang'e-6 (No. CE6C0000YJYX060, CE6C0100). It not only clearly identified graphite carbon for the first time but also traced its possible formation and evolution process. More importantly, it confirmed for the first time internationally the existence of naturally occurring single-walled carbon nanotubes without any human intervention. The study shows that the formation of these carbon nanotubes may be closely related to an iron-catalyzed process under the synergistic effects of micro-meteorite impacts, volcanic activity, and solar wind irradiation during the Moon's history, demonstrating nature's ability to synthesize key materials under extreme conditions.

Schematic diagram of the formation mechanism of carbon nanotubes

Through comparative studies of the Chang'e-6 samples from the far side of the Moon and the Chang'e-5 samples from the near side, the team found that the carbon structures in the Chang'e-6 samples exhibit more pronounced defect characteristics, which may be related to the stronger history of micro-meteorite impacts on the far side. This discovery also reveals new asymmetry in the composition and evolution processes between the near and far sides of the Moon.

The research conducted by Jilin University was titled "Discovery of Naturally Occurring Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Graphitic Carbon on the Far Side of the Moon" and was officially published in the journal Nano Letters on December 30, 2025. This is another important finding by the team following their discovery of few-layer graphene in the Chang'e-5 lunar samples.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7597335762790515241/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.