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Growing Diamonds at Ambient Pressure
Context:
Researchers at the Centre for Multidimensional Carbon Materials (CMCM) within the Institute for Basic Science have developed a revolutionary method for artificially growing diamonds.
More on News:
- A report published in Nature highlights that Korean scientists successfully grew diamonds in 15 minutes at 1,025℃ temperature without seed particles and under ambient pressure.
- The research challenges the common belief that diamonds can only be grown under extreme pressure and temperature conditions.
Background:
- Indian Budget 2023-24: Reduction in customs duties for ‘seeds’ used in lab-grown diamonds.
- Government grant of ₹242 crore to IIT Madras for establishing the India Centre for Lab Grown Diamonds (InCent-LGD).
The Traditional Diamond-Growing Process:
- Discovered by General Electric in 1955.
- High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) Method: Synthetic diamonds are traditionally produced using the HPHT method.
- It involves dissolving carbon in liquid metal at pressures around 5 GPa and temperatures between 1,300–1,600°C.
- Diamonds produced using this method typically take approximately 12 days to form.
- Produced Diamonds are typically small in size.
The New Discovery:
- UNIST Team: 15 scientists from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, including Indian scientist Babu Ram.
- Atmospheric Pressure: Unlike traditional methods that require extreme pressures, the team grew diamonds at 1 atmosphere of pressure—equivalent to the pressure we experience at sea level.
- Method: Created a cocktail of gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon in a graphite crucible.
- Then they pumped in methane at 1,175oC. Diamonds formed at the bottom, where the liquid metal had solidified, and “had rainbow colours to the eye”.
- Used a different methane — 13CH4 — where the carbon atom is of an isotope of carbon and they found diamonds were purer.
- Verification: Diamonds confirmed using Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
- Growth Location: Diamonds nucleated and grew at the centre of the crucible due to a temperature gradient.
- Diamond formation begins within 10 to 15 minutes, and growth duration ends around 150 minutes.
Findings and Implications:
- Diamonds formed in just 10 to 15 minutes, a significant reduction from the 12 days required by the HPHT method.
- This method represents a significant advancement in diamond production, offering a faster and potentially more cost-effective alternative to traditional methods.
- Researchers found diamonds nucleated and grew at the centre of the crucible, where a slight temperature gradient likely existed, with carbon atoms moving towards this cooler spot.
Future Prospects:
- New Possibilities: This innovative method of diamond growth opens new possibilities for the diamond manufacturing industry.
- Global Efforts: It aligns with global efforts, such as those in India, to advance lab-grown diamond technology and reduce production costs.
- Potential for Scalability: The potential for faster, more efficient diamond production could revolutionise industries ranging from jewellery to high-tech applications.
