Scientists create new ‘super diamond' in major breakthrough
Chinese scientists have created an artificial 'super diamond' much greater in hardness than real ones, an advance that could lead to breakthroughs across several key industries that rely on the material.
Natural diamonds mostly have a cubic lattice – or arrangement of their carbon atoms – but a hexagonal crystal structure is known to provide a much stronger material.
However, researchers say, the applications of such a hexagonal diamond (HD), known as lonsdaleite, have been 'largely unexplored' due to the low purity and minuscule size of most samples obtained.
Previously, the hardest diamonds known have been found only in asteroid and meteoroid impact craters.
For instance, lonsdaleite was first discovered in the Canyon Diablo meteorite in Arizona in 1967.
The synthesis of this material in labs has also remained unverified beyond a few studies.
Now, a new study, published in the journal Nature Materials, reports the synthesis of 'well-crystallised, nearly pure HD' by heating highly compressed graphite.
Researchers led by Liu Bingbing and Yao Mingguang from northeastern China's Jilin University show that HD can be formed from what scientists call a 'post-graphite phase' when graphite is compressed under temperature gradients.
'Here we report the synthesis of well-crystallised, nearly pure HD by heating highly compressed graphite, which is applicable to both bulk and nanosized graphitic precursors,' scientists wrote.
They found that this approach led to the formation of a millimetre-sized, highly structured block containing stacks of ultrasmall HD nanolayers.
This 'super diamond' structure, according to scientists, exhibits high thermal stability 'up to 1,100C and a very high hardness of 155 Giga Pascals (GPa).'
In comparison, natural diamonds have a hardness of around 100 GPa and a thermal stability up to around 700C.
The material's high thermal stability and hardness 'suggest its great potential for industrial applications', scientists wrote in the study.
They say the findings also provide a framework for graphite-to-diamond conversion under high pressure and temperature, further opening opportunities for fabricating the material to suit applications.
'Our findings offer valuable insights regarding the graphite-to-diamond conversion under elevated pressure and temperature, providing opportunities for the fabrication and applications of this unique material,' they wrote.
However, this is not the first time a form of HD has been synthesised in a lab.
A 2021 study led by scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US also reported creating hexagonal diamonds, SCMP reported.
They said the material could be a 'superior alternative' to conventional diamonds in widespread applications including in machining or drilling.
Such hexagonal diamonds may also be fashioned into engagement rings, scientists said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
What are rare earth elements and why are they important?
STORY: EDITORS NOTE: THIS SCRIPT AND VIDEO HAVE BEEN REFILED DUE TO A U.S.-CHINA TRADE DEAL BEING REACHED WITH A FRAMEWORK TO REMOVE CHINESE EXPORT RESTRICTIONS ON RARE EARTH MINERALS. THE STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2025. Rare earth minerals are used in almost every technology you can think of. They're present in cellphones, medical devices, wind turbines, weapons and much more. But what are they? And why are they important? And are they actually rare? :: What are rare earths and why are they important? :: Julie Michelle Klinger, Geographer 'So the term rare earth elements, it refers to 17 chemically similar elements within the Lanthanide series.' This is Professor Julie Michelle Klinger, a geographer and senior visiting fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences. 'So, if you can picture the periodic table, it's that bar at the bottom. Elements 57 to 71 plus scandium and yttrium.' Reuters' special correspondent on commodities, Eric Onstad, has a bit of the history. :: Eric Onstad, Specialist Correspondent, Commodities, Reuters 'The elements were first discovered by a Swedish miner in 1787 near a village called Ytterby and that's reflected in the name of two rare earths, yttrium and ytterbium. Another rare earth, promethium, was named by the wife of one of the discoverers after the Greek god who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. China is by far the dominant producer. They account for 60% of mine production and 90% of processed rare earths. But interestingly, this wasn't always the case. In the 1980s, for instance, the United States was the biggest producer and Europe had one of the biggest processing plants in the world.' :: What are they used for? KLINGER: 'They are often described as the vitamins or the spice of industry because they have enabled our technologies to get smaller and faster and stronger and more resilient.' Elements like lanthanum and cerium, some of the most common rare earths, are used in TVs and lighting... While the application of erbium and yttrium can range from nuclear power to lasers. ONSTAD: 'There are two broad categories that have really got the spotlight. The first one is military uses, and that can be from night goggles, to precision missiles, to radar. And of course, that is a very sensitive issue for nations wanting to guard their access to those kinds of minerals. The second area is regarding the energy transition. And there are four specific rare earths that are used to make super-strong permanent magnets that are used in motors for electric vehicle and for wind turbines. So that is key for most nations' zero-carbon targets and cutting greenhouse gases.' :: What is the environmental impact of extraction? KLINGER: 'It's really because of the challenges, the heavy energy and resource and pollution risks that are associated with refining rare earth elements, that production has concentrated historically in so few places.' Processing rare earths often involves the use of solvents, which can produce toxic waste. More environmentally friendly technologies are being developed, but they are not yet widely used. ONSTAD: 'The other issue is that some rare earth deposits are radioactive. They include uranium and thorium. And so, some countries are not interested in having that be mined in their country.' :: Are they actually rare? But are they actually rare? Not really... ONSTAD: 'They are found all over the world. And in terms of the deposits, no, they are not actually rare. What's rare about them is sometimes they are found in very small quantities. And in addition to that, they're mixed with all kinds of other minerals. So, the difficulty is sometimes extracting each single rare earth from all the other minerals that are involved in the deposit. "


New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
Doctors warn against ‘dangerous' viral Chinese sleep hack: ‘A physics experiment on your spinal cord'
It's not that kind of swingers party. How far would you go to get a good night's rest? Would you take supplements, journal or do a fire-burning ritual? How about swinging from your neck in a public park? That's precisely what some senior citizens in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang are doing — and it's going viral. 6 People in China are swinging from their necks in public parks to get better sleep. Future Publishing via Getty Images Footage shared on social media shows older adults looping U‑shaped belts attached to playground bars or trees around their chins and gently swaying back and forth like lemurs, seemingly without a care in the world. While it's certainly not a sight you wanna stumble across in the middle of the night, locals swear by this bizarre practice as a cure for sleep-related issues and spinal discomfort. The brains behind this operation is Sun Rongchun, 57, who developed the device to treat his cervical spondylosis — a common, age-related condition that can cause headaches, dizziness and insomnia, the Economic Times reported. Rongchun has trademarked the device and applied to have it patented — until then, he comes to the park every day to educate the public. 6 Footage shared on social media shows older adults looping U‑shaped belts attached to playground bars or trees around their chins and gently swaying back and forth like lemurs. REUTERS It seems his spinal exercises are really taking off. 'In the past, my cervical spine was in bad shape, so I was uncomfortable lying down every night, but after a few days, it worked pretty well,' one fan told local media. 'Now, my throat condition is better and the uncomfortable symptoms are completely gone. I've been doing this exercise for two years already.' 6 Sun Rongchun, 57, developed the device to treat his cervical spondylosis. Future Publishing via Getty Images It's unclear exactly how this device works on the spine — and experts say this is one trick you definitely should not be trying at home. 'People are desperate for better sleep, but no trend is worth risking paralysis or stroke,' said certified sleep science coach Rosie Osmun of 'Hanging any part of your body, let alone your neck, is biomechanically dangerous. There are safe, research-backed alternatives that actually work.' 6 'In the past, my cervical spine was in bad shape, so I was uncomfortable lying down every night, but after a few days, it worked pretty well,' one participant said. Future Publishing via Getty Images Done wrong, this trend can result in nerve damage, spinal injury or even death from restricted blood flow to the brain. There's already been at least one reported incident in which a man died after mistakenly looping the belt around his neck instead of his chin. 6 'Hanging any part of your body, let alone your neck, is biomechanically dangerous,' one expert said. REUTERS Human error aside, in a public park, you've also got the elements to contend with. 'Medical traction uses precise grams of force; park-belt swinging is essentially an uncontrolled physics experiment on your spinal cord,' said physical therapist Dr. Jennifer Miller, who is affiliated with Amerisleep. According to Osmun, the only reason these sleeping hacks gain traction is because 'they're dramatic, visually striking and falsely promise quick fixes for chronic problems.' 6 There's already been at least one reported incident in which a man died after mistakenly looping the belt around his neck instead of his chin. REUTERS If you're looking for a soothing, rocking sensation to make you feel like a baby before bed — get a hammock. Otherwise, you might be in for the forever sleep. 'Sleep is essential for life, but so is safety,' Osmun said. 'The solution isn't in belts, but in balance: real strategies grounded in science, not spectacle.'
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
ReElement Technologies achieves milestone in high-purity gallium and terbium production
ReElement Technologies, a subsidiary of American Resources, has announced the production of ultra-high-purity gallium and terbium from defence-related feedstocks supplied by major US defence contractors. In April 2024, ReElement extended its exclusive rights to utilise ligand-assisted displacement (LAD) chromatography technology, which was developed at Purdue University, to encompass all types of feedstocks including rare earth ores. The technology is used at ReElement's Commercial Qualification Plant in Noblesville, Indiana, to produce materials of exceptional purity, cost-efficiency and environmental sustainability. ReElement's continuous chromatography process offers numerous advantages including the use of aqueous chemistry, which eliminates the need for toxic solvents. This process also boasts lower capital expenditures, high versatility, and modular and scalable capacity, which aligns with the increasing availability of feedstocks. Additionally, localised processing strengthens supply chain security and efficiency by reducing the need to transport raw ore globally. ReElement Technologies CEO Mark Jensen said: 'Our platform continues to demonstrate unmatched versatility and performance in the global marketplace, enabling us to produce ultra-pure critical minerals required by the US defence sector and broader high-tech industries. 'We take a collaborative approach – inviting partners to send their materials to us for evaluation and refinement. Multiple defence clients have recently visited our facility, validated our process firsthand, and are now converting those evaluations into commercial opportunities. 'There is a significant amount of legacy material within the defence industry that has been historically landfilled. Now we can economically recover and refine these metals at a cost structure competitive with or even below Chinese suppliers. This is a transformative development for the sector.' The refining platform, initially developed for pharmaceutical purification, has been adapted to separate rare earths and critical minerals effectively. ReElement's patented platform is programmable and can handle multiple feedstocks and minerals, allowing for rapid deployment across various locations and resource types. This method contrasts with traditional solvent extraction methods as it uses fewer chemicals, requires less space and generates minimal waste. This not only makes the process faster to permit but also simpler to co-locate near feedstock or end-use customers. This is particularly crucial for the US, which aims to establish independence in critical mineral supply chains and reduce reliance on single-source processing. Additionally, American Resources has secured strategic funding from South African investment firm Novare Holdings through ReElement Technologies. This investment aims to catalyse the expansion of rare earth element refining operations in Marion, Indiana, US, with approximately $150m in combined equity and debt financing to enhance ReElement's refining capabilities at its 42-acre site. "ReElement Technologies achieves milestone in high-purity gallium and terbium production" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio