Recently, researchers at North Carolina State University discovered a new solid phase of carbon that they have coined ‘Q-carbon’. Graphite and diamonds are the best known solid phases of carbon, and Q-carbon is best viewed as a new type of diamond. The authors claim Q-carbon is harder and has a higher luster than diamonds in addition to possessing ferromagnetic and electro-conductive properties. The work was described in two papers published in the journal APL Materials and the Journal of Applied Physics on October the 7th and December the 2nd of this year respectively..
Q-carbon is formed when a high-powered nanosecond laser is used to heat amorphous carbon dispersed on sapphire to over 4000 degrees Kelvin. The carbon then cools rapidly forming nanodiamonds, microdiamonds, microneedles, or single crystal thin films depending on the experimental conditions. The process occurs at ambient temperature and pressure and the laser is similar to ones commonly used in medicine. Because of the rapid and sudden cooling, the carbon forms a unique crystalline lattice structure that affords the substance its unusual properties; the rapid heating and quenching is the reason for the ‘Q’ in Q-carbon. It is speculated that this phase of carbon may only exist in the core of planets.
At the moment, the utility of Q-carbon is largely speculative, but lead researcher, Jagdish Narayan, believes it will be used in industry, medicine, and electron materials. Specifically, the luster of Q-carbon may lead to applications in electronic displays, and its increased hardness over diamonds may lead to industrial applications. The most promising initial application appears to be its utilization in the formation of synthetic diamonds. Currently, diamonds are expensive to mine and manufacture, and this new, innovative process could make a 1-carat diamond in 15 minutes without the use of high pressure or high temperature.
Narayan believes that the first major application of the technology will be to create “a diamond factory for nanoproducts.” Because of their nontoxic nature, nanodiamonds are being investigated as vehicles to deliver anti-cancer compounds to the brain. Narayan acknowledges that Q-carbon is very new and that additional research is needed, but the potential applications are quite exciting.
References:
Researchers Find New Phase of Carbon, Make Diamond at Room Temperature
Image credits: Jagdish (Jay) Narayan (High resolution SEM micrograph of entire Q-carbon film covered with microdiamonds)
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