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A group of innovative scientists have accomplished something extraordinary: They’ve found a way to create “real” diamonds at normal room temperature and pressure. This breakthrough not only eliminates
A group of innovative scientists have accomplished something extraordinary: They’ve found a way to create “real” diamonds at normal room temperature and pressure. This breakthrough not only eliminates the need for starting gems, but also greatly simplifies the production process of lab-grown diamonds, making it more efficient and potentially more affordable. This discovery, which challenges traditional methods, paves the way for a new era in diamond synthesis.
Most diamonds begin their journey 90 to 150 miles below the surface, in a part of the Earth’s mantle where temperatures rise to nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and pressures are incredibly high. Under such extreme conditions, carbon atoms combine into a unique crystal structure, creating the hard, shiny gemstones we know and love.
But how to bring these diamonds to the surface is another story. Volcanic eruptions millions of years ago deposited diamonds in rocks called kimberlites or lamproites closer to the Earth’s crust. These explosions were like high-speed elevators that moved the diamonds upward fast enough to keep them intact in the low-pressure environment.
Today miners find these ancient stones in volcanic vents or river beds where erosion has carried them away.
Scientists used the high pressure-high temperature (HPHT) growth method to simulate these natural conditions in the laboratory. With this method, they simulated the same extreme conditions to force dissolved carbon in liquid metals such as iron to turn into diamond around the starting gem.
This approach has limitations. Incredible pressure and heat are not easy to achieve or maintain under laboratory conditions. The sizes of laboratory-produced gemstones are also far from desirable. The largest of them reach the size of a blueberry, and the process takes a long time. Alternative methods such as chemical vapor deposition attempt to overcome some of the limitations of HPHT, such as the need for high pressure, but the initial diamond requirement remains.
The new technique, developed by a group led by Rodney Ruoff, a physical chemist at the South Korean Institute of Basic Sciences, overcomes some of the drawbacks of the synthesis processes mentioned above. According to Ruoff, he has been thinking about new ways to grow diamonds and challenging conventional thinking for more than a decade.
The team’s method started with electrically heating gallium with a small amount of silicon in a graphite crucible. While gallium may seem exotic, it was actually chosen based on previous, unrelated research that demonstrated its ability to catalyze the formation of graphene, diamond’s carbon cousin.
The team also invented a special chamber containing a 2.4-gallon crucible where a mixture of gallium and silicon was expected. This crucible chamber, designed to operate at atmospheric pressure at sea level, was made ready for the experiment in just 15 minutes. This made it possible to quickly and easily modify experimental gas mixtures to determine the optimum mixture.
After numerous tests, scientists found that the optimal mixture of gallium, nickel and iron with some silicon most effectively catalyzes the growth of diamonds. Even more impressive, diamonds appeared at the bottom of the crucible within 15 minutes, and a more complete diamond film formed within two and a half hours.
The actual mechanism that leads to the formation of diamonds deep within the Earth is not yet fully understood. But researchers believe that lowering the temperature helps carbon move from methane to the center of the crucible, where it turns into diamonds. The process appears to be silicon dependent. Diamonds could not form without it, indicating its important role as a seed in carbon crystallization.
Despite these exciting advances, the new technique is not without its limitations. Diamonds produced by this method are very small; It is hundreds of thousands of times smaller than diamonds grown using the HPHT method. So these diamonds are too small for jewelry use. However, it is also possible to use them for technological purposes such as drilling or polishing. Thanks to the low pressure used in the new method, the synthesis of diamonds can be greatly expanded.
Rodney Ruoff makes an optimistic prediction: “In about a year or two, the world may have a clearer picture of things like potential trade impact.”
This breakthrough is a great reflection of the constant pursuit of innovation that pushes boundaries and redefines what is possible. This intriguing discovery could even herald an exciting new chapter in the history of synthetic gemstones that could change the way they are produced and used. Time will tell how far this innovation will take us. The full text of the research was published in the journal Nature.
Source: Port Altele
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
