Scientists Unravel New Type of Atomically Thin Carbon Material Written by AZoNanoMay 21 2021 Carbon occurs in different forms in nature. Apart from graphite and diamond, there are some recently discovered forms with surprising properties. Structure of the new network. The upper part schematically shows how the carbon atoms link as squares, hexagons, and octagons. The lower part is an image of the network, obtained with high-resolution microscopy. Image Credit: University of Marburg and Aalto University. For instance, graphene, having a thickness of only one atomic layer, is the thinnest known material and its exceptional properties make it a highly exciting candidate for applications such as high-tech engineering and future electronics.