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Australian researchers have made a diamond that’s harder than diamond
Australian researchers have made a diamond that's harder than diamond

Australian researchers have made a diamond that’s harder than diamond

Scientists at the Australian National University (ANU) has successfully created Lonsdaleite, a new type of diamond that’s the hardest known to mankind. In fact, this new diamond is so hard that it’s powerful enough to cut through ultra-solid materials found in mining sites.

The scientists made nano-sized Lonsdaleite at 400 degrees Celsius (752 degrees Fahrenheit), effectively halving the temperature in which it can be formed in a lab. They’ve published their work in Scientific Reports.

In nature, this kind of diamond can only be found at the site of meteorite impacts: Canyon Diablo in the United States, for instance.

“The hexagonal structure of this diamond’s atoms makes it much harder than regular diamonds, which have a cubic structure,” ANU professor Jodie Bradby explains in a press release.

If all goes according to plan, the researchers envision that these ultra-hard lab-made diamonds could be used to help cut through stubbornly solid materials at mining sites.

“This new diamond is not going to be on any engagement rings. You’ll more likely find it on a mining site — but I still think that diamonds are a scientist’s best friend,” Dr. Bradby says. “Any time you need a super-hard material to cut something, this new diamond has the potential to do it more easily and more quickly.”

Interestingly, diamonds are proving themselves as useful tools in a number of areas. Researchers have shown that diamond defects could be used a new medium for long-term 3D data storage, and nano-sized diamond microdisks might lead to huge advances in quantum computing.

Agencies/Canadajournal




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