Chinese researchers have found natural graphene in moon dust, a discovery that could rewrite theories of lunar formation and open new paths for space resource use.
Chinese scientists have discovered natural multilayer graphene in lunar soil collected by the Chang’e-5 mission, marking the first confirmed presence of the carbon material on the Moon.
Researchers from Jilin University identified the graphene—two to seven layers thick—through non-destructive laser spectroscopy, finding patterns of consistent with high-quality graphite-like structures. Iron-rich nanoparticles nearby suggest metallic catalysts may have helped form the carbon during short heating events.
Lead author Wei Zhang said the find could “reshape ideas about lunar birth and guide resource plans for future crews.”
The discovery challenges long-held views from Apollo samples that the Moon is carbon-poor, supporting newer evidence from Japan’s Kaguya mission that carbon is widespread.
Graphene’s strength and conductivity could make it valuable for in-situ manufacturing of radiation shields, water filters, or energy storage devices on future lunar bases.
The finding also raises fresh questions about whether carbon was present from the Moon’s formation or accumulated over time via solar wind.