High-Density COHx Network Glass

Polymeric solids made of simple “organic” hydrocarbons are primarily in one-dimensional (1D) chains and less frequently in 2D polymers like graphene. Research efforts aimed at development of 3D hydrocarbon polymers have resulted in low-density covalent–organic and metal–organic frameworks. However, the synthesis of dense hydrocarbon networks with high chemical energy density has not been achieved. Here, we present evidences of a new high-density (∼3.23 g/cm3), predominantly single-bonded transparent COHx (x < 2) network glass, synthesized by chemical reactions in dense solid mixtures of CO and H2 at 9–30 GPa and recovered at ambient conditions with long-term stability. This material constitutes a first made, dense 3D hydrocarbon polymer at a class of diamond and cubic-BN, which can be used for chemical energy storage and novel electro-optical materials.