Scientists develop technique to create diamonds in 15 minutes

The formation of natural diamonds is a complex process, requiring immense pressure of several gigapascals and scorching temperatures of around 1500 degrees Celsius over thousands of years to transform carbon atoms into diamonds. Typically, these conditions are found hundreds of miles below the Earth’s surface. However, scientists have now developed groundbreaking technology that can create similar gems on the surface within just 15 minutes, without the need for high pressure or high temperatures. This advancement could revolutionize the synthetic diamond industry in the coming years.

Physical chemist Rodney Ruoff from the Institute for Basic Science in South Korea published his study on April 24 in the journal Nature.

Current Method
Currently, 99% of synthetic diamonds are produced using the high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) method. This involves subjecting carbon atoms to extreme conditions to convert them into diamonds around a small seed or starter diamond.

New Method
The innovative method developed by Ruoff and his team operates at atmospheric pressure and can produce diamonds in just 15 minutes.

The researchers used electrically heated gallium mixed with a small amount of silicon in a graphite crucible. This crucible was placed in a chamber maintained at sea-level atmospheric pressure.

Through extensive experimentation, they discovered that a mixture of gallium, nickel, and iron, combined with a pinch of silicon, created the ideal conditions for diamond formation in just 15 minutes.

“For over a decade, I have been considering new ways to grow diamonds, thinking it might be possible to achieve this in unexpected ways,” Ruoff told Live Science. However, this new method still faces challenges and requires further research to become viable for broader use.

One of the current limitations is that the diamonds produced using this technique are extremely small, with the largest ones being hundreds of thousands of times smaller than those grown using the HPHT method. “In about a year or two, we might have a clearer picture of the potential commercial impact,” Ruoff added.