Chinese Scientists Synthesize Hexagonal Diamond Harder Than Natural Diamonds
Researchers in China have successfully created pure hexagonal diamonds, a form harder than natural cubic diamonds, potentially revolutionizing industrial applications.
Chinese scientists have successfully synthesized pure hexagonal diamonds, a rare form of carbon known as lonsdaleite, which exhibits greater hardness than natural cubic diamonds. This breakthrough was achieved by compressing highly ordered graphite under extreme conditions—applying 20 gigapascals of pressure and heating to temperatures between 1,300°C and 1,900°C. The resulting hexagonal diamond samples measured approximately 1.5 millimeters in diameter, sufficient for material property assessments. Tests revealed that these synthetic diamonds possess a hardness of around 114 gigapascals, slightly surpassing the 110 gigapascals typical of natural diamonds. The enhanced hardness and thermal stability of hexagonal diamonds suggest potential applications in industries requiring durable materials, such as cutting tools, thermal management systems, and quantum sensing technologies.