Room temperature diamonds can be created using a new phase of carbon named Q-Carbon.
A team of scientists from the University of North Carolina have done the impossible. The intrepid team of researchers actually managed to devise a technique to fashion diamonds at low temperatures. Researchers created diamond at room temperature thanks to a newly discovered form of solid carbon.
The new type of solid carbon, nicknamed Q-carbon, is, according to the researchers, quite different from other solid carbon compounds. So, what makes Q so special from graphite and diamond? Well, for once, Q-carbon has ferromagnetic properties. The event baffles even the ones who discovered it because graphite and other forms of solid carbon are not likely to possess magnetic capabilities.
The second feat that clearly distinguishes Q-carbon from other solid carbons is the fact that its molecular structure is much stronger that a common crystal. And the last feat that makes this little shiner awesome is its capability to glow in the dark, even though it is exposed to small amounts of energy.
One of its creators, by the name of Jay Narayan, declared that the carbonic phase is so versatile that it can be used to fashion applications for many field of study. The Q-carbon can be successfully used to build new electronic displays.
Now for the most popular application of this new type of carbon. Yes, the technique could be used in order to make low-cost diamonds. The researchers explained that the procedure might be possible if we are able to fashion Q-carbon from glass. Then we would have to coat the resulting structured with another elemental carbon. After assembling the whole thingamabob, it would have to be submitted to a couple of ray sessions. A high lased pulse would bombard the structure’s surface. After that, the outer surface must be cooled to a specific temperature. Note, that both procedures must be done in specific manner, in order to ensure that the end product is really a diamond.
Doctor Narayan said the Q-carbon is quite in high demand. It can be used in order to create certain medical instruments such as nano or microneedles. Furthermore, the Q-carbon can also be used in order to fashion new drug delivery methods. Commenting a little on the Q-diamond, the same Narayan added that the structure itself is made from a single crystalline structure, which basically makes it even more resilient that diamonds fashioned with polycrystalline materials.
The team mentioned that the resulting diamonds are very cheap to make and they can have any number of applications.
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