A team of scientists in Korea have successfully developed a new method to create artificial diamonds using liquid metal at high temperatures and low pressure. This new process can produce diamonds in just 150 minutes at a temperature of 1,025 degrees Celsius without requiring extreme pressure, which is significantly faster than the natural formation process that takes billions of years.
The research conducted by scientists at the Korean Institute of Basic Sciences and published in the journal Nature on April 24 highlights the potential of this new method. By mixing liquid metals like gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon, the team was able to reduce the pressure required to grow diamonds.
The process involves dissolving carbon into liquid metal, allowing carbon atoms from methane to penetrate the molten metal and act as diamond “seeds.” After just 15 minutes, small pieces of diamond crystals protrude from the surface, and after 150 minutes, a continuous diamond film is formed. The team hopes to improve the process further and explore its potential in combination with other liquid metals for even better results.
While the research is still in its early stages, the new method shows promise for revolutionizing synthetic diamond production. By reducing pressure requirements and enhancing the process, scientists hope to make significant advancements in the field that could lead to a wide range of applications for synthetic diamonds.