Unveiling the Toughest Diamonds Yet

Scientists have made an electrifying breakthrough with the discovery of hexagonal diamonds, a superhard form of carbon previously known only to exist in minuscule amounts in meteorites. While traditional diamonds already hold the title for hardness on the Mohs scale, this new type of diamond has the potential to surpass it.

Hexagonal vs. Cubic Diamonds: The Battle of Hardness

Unlike their cubic counterparts, hexagonal diamonds (also known as lonsdaleite) boast a unique structure that could make them resistant to cleaving, a flaw that affects conventional diamonds. Historically, the study of these rare gems has been hampered by their scarcity, making it tough to analyze their properties—until now.

A Game-Changer from China: Bulk Production of Hexagonal Diamonds

In an impressive feat, a research team led by Professor Ho-kwang Mao from Jilin University has successfully created hexagonal diamonds in bulk for the first time. By applying intense heat and pressure to high-quality graphite, they synthesized crystals ranging from 0.1 to 1 millimeter in size. This breakthrough not only opens the door for rigorous testing against conventional diamonds but also promises new possibilities in materials science.

The Hardness Experiment: Measuring the Toughness of the New Diamond

The resulting hexagonal diamonds, although containing trace imperfections from cubic diamond, still exhibit hardness levels slightly greater than typical diamonds. This illumination comes with a caveat—while theoretical models suggest they could be significantly harder, real-world tests are still in progress.

The Origins of Lonsdaleite: A Cosmic Accident

Lonsdaleite was first discovered in meteorites, a product of the extraordinary forces unleashed during asteroid impacts. Unfortunately, these naturally occurring hexagonal diamonds often exist alongside other materials, complicating analysis. The effort to isolate and understand lonsdaleite has led to significant advancements in materials science, including the groundbreaking discovery of graphene.

A Bright Future Ahead: Applications of Hexagonal Diamonds

Professor Mao envisions a bright future for these synthesized hexagonal diamonds, predicting their potential use in high-end electronic devices and superhard materials. However, if production costs remain steep and hardness improvements are minimal, widespread application in industry may still be a challenge. The research findings have been published in the journal Nature, marking a significant milestone in the quest for advanced materials.