Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Scientists have achieved a remarkable feat by developing a method to grow diamonds in just 150 minutes, utilizing a special liquid metal mix instead of traditional high-pressure techniques.
Unlike the natural process that takes billions of years or synthetic methods requiring weeks, this new technique yields diamonds in a fraction of the time, revolutionizing the industry.
Led by a team from South Korea's Institute for Basic Science, the researchers devised a method that eliminates the need for immense pressure typically associated with diamond production.
The process involves dissolving carbon in a specific blend of liquid metals - gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon - heated rapidly in a vacuum chamber with methane and hydrogen gases.
Under these conditions, carbon atoms become suspended in the liquid metal, forming diamond crystal seeds. Within just 15 minutes, small diamond fragments emerge, and a continuous diamond film can be produced in 150 minutes.
The technique holds promise for various industrial applications, electronics, and even quantum computers, offering a faster and more efficient method of diamond production.
Although the current method has limitations such as the depth of the diamond film, researchers are optimistic about improvements through larger growth areas and optimized carbon distribution techniques.
Published in the journal Nature, this research marks a significant advancement in diamond production, paving the way for a faster, easier, and more scalable approach to creating diamonds.