A new half-Mbius topology molecule has been created, representing a third electronic structure option beyond standard and half-Mbius configurations.

Led by Igor Ron0eci and Leo Gross, the researchers describe the discovery as expanding our ability to manipulate matter and as a potential stepping stone to exploring multiple twists or braided molecular architectures.

The molecule spontaneously twists by 90 degrees to align its two separated conjugated systems, enabling electron sharing across the entire 24-electron ring and producing distinct electronic and magnetic properties.

The half-Mbius structure exhibits chirality, yielding two enantiomers that are mirror images, with a small external voltage able to interconvert them more readily than in conventional chemistry.

Future work will deepen theoretical understanding and explore additional half-Mbius twists or braided configurations to assess broader applications and properties.

The findings were published in Science on March 5, 2026, with support from computational and experimental work, including an IBM Zurich collaboration, and quantum computing played a key role in modeling the complex electronic structure.

The system comprises two conjugated chains within a single 13-carbon ring, with chlorine substitutions at positions 1 and 7, creating an uneven electron distribution that underpins the twisting behavior.