 "Explained: Can a diamond be made in just 15 minutes?")
Diamonds are precious and creating them is a tough process. Under natural conditions, it may even take thousands of years.
But what happens if similar gemstones are produced in just 15 minutes?
It appears that scientists have created such innovative technology, which in the upcoming years, might completely revolutionise the synthetic diamond market, according to Livescience.
Let’s take a look.
The formation of natural diamonds
Natural diamonds often originate under extremely high temperatures and pressures deep inside the Earth’s mantle, as per the report.
These conditions are simulated by the traditional high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) method of producing synthetic diamonds, which calls for pressures of several gigapascals and temperatures of 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit (1,500 degrees Celsius).
Currently, as per Livescience, the HPHT process is used to create 99 per cent of synthetic diamonds.
There are, however, two shortcomings of this technique – 1. It is a time-consuming process, with almost a minimum of two weeks needed and requires extreme conditions that are hard to maintain. 2. A seed or started gem is needed for the process.
Chemical vapour deposition is an alternative technique that eliminates several HPHT requirements, such as high pressures.
Still others, like the need for seeds, are persistent.
The new approach
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA group of scientists from the Institute for Basic Science in South Korea, under the direction of physical chemist Rodney Ruoff, have created a method for synthesising diamonds at standard atmospheric pressure without the use of a starter gem.
A study that was published in the journal Nature on 24 April details this novel approach.
The unique method goes beyond some of the shortcomings of traditional diamond-making techniques.
The researchers used electrically heated gallium with a bit of silicone in a graphite crucible, housed in a chamber maintained at sea-level atmospheric pressure.
This 2.4-gallon (nine-litre) chamber was created by co-author Won Kyung Seong, who is also affiliated with the Institute for Basic Science.
The creation of diamonds was accelerated by the flushing of extremely hot, carbon-rich methane gas through the chamber.
Unbelievably, diamonds started to form in just 15 minutes.
A more complete diamond film, mostly pure but with a few silicon atoms, formed in two and a half hours.
“For over a decade I have been thinking about new ways to grow diamonds, as I thought it might be possible to achieve this in what might be unexpected (per ‘conventional’ thinking) ways,” Ruoff told Live Science via email.
Researchers discovered that the best combination for catalysing diamond growth was gallium, nickel, and iron with a small amount of silicon.
The team thinks that a temperature drop pushes carbon from the methane into the centre of the crucible, where it coalesces into a diamond. The specifics of the mechanism that generates the diamonds are still being explored.
Since silicon is necessary for the formation of diamonds, it appears to serve as a seed for the carbon to crystallise around.
Challenges
However, there are challenges with the new approach.
The produced diamonds are too small to be used in jewellery — much smaller than those made by HPHT.
However, there may be technological uses for these tiny diamonds, such as drilling and polishing.
According to the Live Science report, the low pressure may also make it possible to significantly scale up the synthesis of diamonds.
“In about a year or two, the world might have a clearer picture of things like possible commercial impact,” Ruoff said.
This novel approach to diamond synthesis, however, creates new opportunities that could revolutionise industrial applications and lead to more productive production techniques.
With inputs from agencies
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