- Brown University chemists provide direct evidence challenging the textbook explanation of triple chemical bonds in heavy elements.
- Using photoelectron spectroscopy, researchers show that relativistic effects blur the lines between sigma and pi bonds in carbon-bismuth triple bonds.
- Heavy atomic nuclei cause electrons to speed up, leading to spin-orbit coupling and hybridization of sigma and pi bonds.
- The study suggests rewriting chemistry textbooks, as heavy elements like bismuth gain importance in solar cells, quantum materials, and quantum computing.