Diamond, known for its exceptional hardness, may have the potential to be transformed into an even tougher material. This precious stone, composed of carbon crystals, is naturally occurring on Earth. Recent research suggests that 'fountains of diamonds' could erupt to the surface during significant geological events.
Traditionally, diamond has been revered for its hardness due to its tetrahedral lattice structure. However, physicists from the US and Sweden have developed a simulation indicating that a new structure could be 30% more resistant to compression than diamonds.
By conducting quantum-accurate molecular-dynamics simulations on a supercomputer, experts explored how diamond behaves under extreme pressure and temperatures that could render it unstable. This research unveiled the potential for carbon atoms in diamonds to form a unique structure known as the eight-atom body-centred cubic (BC8) phase, which has only been observed in silicon and germanium on Earth.
While the BC8 phase of carbon does not naturally occur on Earth, it is speculated that it could exist in the highly pressurized environments within exoplanets. Physicists have noted that the BC8 structure maintains a tetrahedral shape without the cleavage planes present in the diamond structure.
Despite the theoretical promise of the BC8 phase, attempts to synthesize it have not yet been successful. The challenge lies in the narrow temperature and pressure ranges required for the BC8 phase to manifest, which are currently unknown. Physicists have predicted that this post-diamond phase would only be accessible within a specific high-pressure, high-temperature region of the carbon phase diagram.
While the potential for creating a material even harder than diamond is intriguing, further research and experimentation are needed to unlock the secrets of the BC8 phase and its practical applications.
