Researchers show that 3D materials that behave like graphene are possible

Researchers from Oxford, Stanford and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory discovered a new 3D material (Na3Bi) that behaves like graphene. While it is very unstable, this is still a significant discovery as it shows that it’s possible to find 3D materials that have similar properties to graphene.

The fact that graphene is a single sheet of atoms (a 2D material) makes it difficult to work with. A 3D material will be easier to handle, and this is why the researchers are excited about their discovery. The new material, a sodium-bismuth compound, is a three-dimensional topological Dirac semimetal – that has a unique behavior of its electrons (it’s actually represents a new quantum state of matter).