Scientists create crystal stronger and harder than diamond itself

Although for many it is an unknown fact, the diamond, besides being regarded as “the precious stone par excellence”, is also one of the most resistant materials of nature. According to physicists, a natural diamond can withstand between 50 and 70 Gigapascals (GPa) of pressure, while artificial or synthetic diamonds reach pressures of up to 100 GPa.

Now, when it was believed that there could not be a stronger material than this, a group of scientists managed to create a crystal that, incredibly, can withstand a total of 113 GPa in the test of Vickers hardness. It’s 226% stronger than a normal diamond and 13% stronger than a synthetic diamond, so in theory it could even scratch one of these gemstones.

“Extensive mechanical tests show that synthesized AM-III carbon is the strongest and strongest amorphous material known to date, which can scratch diamond crystal and approach its strength.”

The research that explains every detail of this discovery has been published in National Science Review, one of the world’s leading scientific journals.

According to the study, this new material (called AM-III), was made, like diamond, from carbon. It also looks like glass and can conduct and absorb light rays.

“Carbon is one of the most fascinating elements, due to its structurally diverse allotropic forms, derived from its bond varieties. The exploration of new forms of carbon has always been the eternal theme of scientific research “, explains the study, assuring that, in this case,” the amorphous structure of this element, acquired after the compression of fullerene C (molecules composed of carbon) under high pressure and high temperature previously unexplored“This is what generated the discovery of this new material.

In fact, experts say, submission to extreme conditions resulted in the formation of a structure of ordered (or defined) atoms combined with somewhat more chaotic ones which, although it might seem like a problem, was the formula that has managed to provide the AM-III with its incredible peculiarities.

Likewise, research points out that “analysis of photoluminescence and absorption spectra shows that they are semiconductors with a bandgap interval of 1.5 to 2.2 electron volts (eV), comparable to that of widely used amorphous silicon“In short, it could replace silicon as a light emitter in objects that run on photovoltaic cells.

“The AM carbon materials produced combine exceptional mechanical and electronic properties, and can potentially be used in photovoltaic applications requiring ultra high strength and wear resistance“, Explain the researchers.

In summary, “the appearance of this type of ultra-hard, ultra-tough, semiconductor carbon material offers excellent options for the most demanding practical applications”, like creating solar panels or other types of items that use light as a generator of electrical energy, but they must be made with materials resistant to extreme temperature conditions or very high pressure.

Finally, although this is a discovery that will surely have a positive impact on the generation of highly resilient photovoltaic industrial processes, scientists say it is still needed. “Continuation of the experimental and theoretical exploration of carbon compounds”, because surely other types of materials can be obtained even more resistant than AM-III.

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