Researchers at the University of Tokyo have found a way to form diamond crystals under the influence of an electron beam, a discovery that could revolutionize the production of superhard materials.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in materials science: for the first time, they have managed to grow diamonds using an electron beam, without applying extreme pressure, high temperatures, or complex chemical processes.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo and their colleagues showed that with special sample preparation, electron irradiation rearranges carbon atoms into the diamond’s crystal lattice. The new method allows for the control of the growth process at the atomic level and the creation of defect-free cubic nanodiamonds.
A key feature of the technology is its controllability and universality. The scientists were able to illustrate the process of converting organic compounds into nanodiamonds using high-precision TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) images. Crucially, the organic materials, which typically break down under an electron beam, are preserved in this instance.
This breakthrough opens up wide prospects for electronics, medicine, and quantum technologies. Diamonds are already used in ultra-sensitive sensors, medical tools, and quantum computers. Scaling up the new method could ensure the stable production of high-quality diamonds for science and industry.
Experts note that this discovery could radically change the approach to synthesizing superhard materials and bring closer a future where creating diamonds becomes a technologically simple and economically efficient process.
