Instant diamonds that take ‘under three hours to grow’ invented by scientists to avoid ‘billion-year’ wait for real gems
A DAZZLING breakthrough has figured out how to produce diamonds in just 150 minutes compared to the billion-year natural process.
The researchers behind the invention are confident they’ll be able to yield large amounts of synthetic diamonds with their new creation process.
The research was published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.
Researchers led the quick-diamond invention from the Institute for Basic Science in South Korea.
“We discovered a method to grow diamonds at 1 atm pressure and under a moderate temperature by using a liquid metal alloy,” the paper said.
The instant diamonds were created by using a completely new process of blending metals and diffusing carbon.
They combined the four liquid metals gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon at 1,877 degrees F at a pressure of just 1 atm.
The blend was placed inside a graphite case with a custom vacuum that would quickly heat and cool the metal while it was simultaneously exposed to methane and hydrogen.
This process caused the methane’s carbon atoms to spread within the melted metal which created “seeds for diamonds.”
“Diamond grew in the subsurface of liquid metal composed of gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon, by catalytic activation of methane and diffusion of carbon atoms into and within the subsurface regions,” the paper said.
“We found that the supersaturation of carbon in the liquid metal subsurface leads to the nucleation and growth of diamonds.”
It only took the diamond seeds 15 minutes to start creating diamond crystals from the liquid metal.
A diamond film was created after two and a half hours of exposure to the process.
GROUNDBREAKING DIAMONDS
The new process the researchers invented also removed the need to include extreme amounts of pressure to create a diamond.
The current process to create synthetic diamonds would need around 5-6 gigapascals to get the diamond seeds to begin to form.
It would also take several days for the current process to be completed.
The researchers believe this new process will be groundbreaking as an efficient way to form diamonds.
“The general approach of using liquid metals could accelerate and advance the growth of diamonds on a variety of surfaces,” the paper said.
Diamonds – the key facts
Here's what you need to know...
- Diamond is a solid form of carbon
- Its atoms are arranged in a crystal structure known as “diamond cubic”
- Diamonds are known for having the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any natural material
- Their atomical arrangement is also extremely rigid, which makes them less likely to be contaminated by impurities
- Natural diamonds are typically aged between 1billion and 3.5billion years old
- And they will generally form at depths of between 93 and 155 miles
- Many diamonds are carried to the surface in volcanic eruptions, making them easier for humans to find
- Synthetic diamonds can also be produced by applying high pressures and temperatures to high-purity carbon
- Diamond is best known for being a popular and costly gemstone, often used for decorative purposes – including being worn as jewellery
The new process could also allow smaller diamond seeds to produce diamonds faster.
“And perhaps facilitate the growth of diamond on small diamond (seed) particles,” the paper added.
The researchers plan to continue improving their strategy to create a larger space for the diamonds to be created under the new process.
This would allow for a large quantity of diamonds to be produced at a quick speed.
“We suggest that straightforward modifications could enable growing diamond over a very large area by using a larger surface or interface,” the paper said.
“By configuring heating elements to achieve a much larger potential growth region and by distributing carbon to the diamond growth region in some new ways.”