The research team of Magnetic and Superconducting Materials of the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), lead by J. Giapintzakis, associate professor at the department of Materials Science and Technology of the Univ. of Crete and FORTH researcher, in cooperation with the Australian National University of Canberra and the Physical-Technical Institute Ioffe in St. Petersburg, discovered interesting magnetic properties in a new form of carbon.

This groundbreaking discovery was recently presented by Mr. Giapintzakis at the Annual International Conference of the American Physical Society in Montreal, Canada, and has already attracted great international publicity, appearing in articles of newspapers such as the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, Suddentsche Zeitung and The Register as well as scientific reviews such as Nature and Science.

This material is a nanofoam, which has one of the lowest mass densities measured in a solid material -2 milligrams per cubic centimeter- and is the first form of pure carbon exhibiting ferromagnetic properties, albeit temporary in room temperature, which is surprising given the fact that carbon is not a magnetic element.

For more information please contact
Dr. Giapintzakis
Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser - FORTH
Tel.: +30 2810-391826, E-mail: giapintz@iesl.forth.gr

See also relevant article in New York Times