A group of scientists in China has managed to synthesize hexagonal diamond on a one hundred microns scale, a type of extremely rare material on Earth, which is usually found in meteorites and exceeds the conventional diamond in hardness.
The research, published in the magazine Nature and cited by the news agency XinhuaI could mark a before and after in the study of super resistant materials.
The common diamond owes its recognized hardness to the tetrahedral disposition of its carbon atoms. However, that same structure presents limitations, since in certain conditions some planes can slide easily, reducing their total resistance.
This has led scientists to explore more robust alternatives, such as hexagonal diamond, which has an even more resistant internal structure.
Chinese researchers developed a novel technique to convert graphite into hexagonal diamond. Under carefully controlled high temperature conditions, high pressure and a quasi -hydrostatic environment, they managed to compress and heating graphite monochristals until hexagonal diamond of great purity.
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Overcoming Obstacles
Until now, most of the attempts to manufacture this type of diamond had failed, mainly due to the strict conditions required by their formation. In high pressure and temperature environments, the most common is that cubic diamond is formed instead of the desired hexagonal.
The success of the Chinese team is attributed, among other factors, to the use of natural graphite of high purity and the implementation of real -time observations through X -rays, which allowed monitoring changes in samples during the process, explained Yang Liuxiang, co -author of the study and researcher at the Advanced Research Center in High Pressure Science and Technology, in Beijing.
According to Ho-Kwang Mao, a high pressure science expert and foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this advance establishes a key methodological framework for future research on diamond materials. He also pointed out that this new hexagonal diamond could pave the way to develop ultra -residents and high -end electronic devices.
With agency information
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