Fossil Fuel Molecule Transforms Into Pure Diamonds

A study from a group of Stanford scientists probed into the feasibility of creating synthetic diamonds from diamond-like, saturated hydrocarbons. Their research, entitled, "Facile diamond synthesis from lower diamondoids" expounded on how these diamondoids (diamond-like, saturated hydrocarbons) are promising precursors for diamond synthesis.

The team used lasers, high pressure, and high temperature to yield these synthetic diamonds. This study, according to its authors, is the first successful mapping on the pressure and temperature conditions and the timing at its commencement that will result in the conversion from diamondoid to diamond through the use of refined powders from petroleum tanks. The research of the Stanford scientists has also revealed what are the physical and chemical factors that facilitate or cause the synthesis of diamonds.

How are diamonds formed naturally?

Diamonds are naturally created and take shape underneath the Earth's surface under intense heat and pressure. These extreme conditions hundred miles beneath the Earth cause carbon to crystallize into diamonds. These can be seen on the Earth's surface due to volcanic eruptions that occurred millions of years ago causing these diamonds to be shot upwards and into the surface.

Since diamonds are forged deep beneath the Earth's surface where carbon is subjected to extreme pressures and temperatures, it is logical to replicate these conditions to manufacture them synthetically. However, this usually means energy-intensive equipment and a catalyst are required to trigger the transformation.

Synthetic Diamonds

Diamonds have many amazing qualities and properties making it a very crucial material in a lot of industries and technologies. However, it is rare and the conditions needed to synthesize it are quite extreme. That is why there had been attempts to create synthetic diamonds as early as the 19th century and efforts towards developing efficient means to generate high-quality diamonds have been present and concerted over the years.

There exists a barrier when it comes to turning carbon into a diamond and that often means a component is required at the expense of purity. The study focused on how to create a new precursor system in synthesizing diamonds that reduces the time and energy barrier as well as understanding fundamental mechanisms that will create crucial advancements in the field of diamond synthesis technology.

Stanford Study

According to the published research, certain adjustments of heat and pressure and laser heating of diamondoids at high pressure create two distinct phases: first, white polycrystalline specks that are framed with darker material around it indicate that there is a diamond; second, white patches that show a dark metallic luster indicate the presence of graphite.

Sulgiye Park, the lead author of the Stanford research stated that they wanted to see whether or not it is possible to create a clean system where a single material can turn into pure diamond instead of using a catalyst that usually diminishes the quality of the diamond.

Diamonds crystallize from deep beneath the Earth and they speak of what it is like inside the Earth's interior. With this discovery of using powder from petroleum tankers, technological advancements may pave the way towards producing diamonds from fossil fuels without energy-intensive equipment and may offer benefits that are beyond the jewelry industry but also in other fields.