A new method can create diamonds in minutes rather than billions of years

A breakthrough study published in the journal Nature, physical chemist Rodney Ruoff and his team at the Institute for Basic Science in South Korea has reported a new, innovative method for diamonds synthesis.

In nature, the formation of diamonds require millions of years and very specific circumstances. Carbon atoms endure extreme pressure at the rate of several gigapascal and blistering temperatures of around 1500 degrees Celsius, within the Earth’s mantle to then mould into the glittering stones that we know as diamonds. 

Revolutionizing Diamond Production: Synthetic Diamonds in Minutes

However, this study suggests that diamonds do not need to go through the long, arduous process of nature again. According to the study, these stones can be created in a matter of minutes— fifteen to be exact.

The synthetic diamond industry currently uses the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) method, constituting of almost 99% of the production.

In this method, diamond-forming conditions in nature are mimicked by subjecting carbon to immense pressures and temperatures over around two weeks. But the process is not flawless. Maintaining such conditions is technically challenging and utilises immense amounts of energy that may not be well-spent.

It also requires a ‘seed’ diamond to initiate growth. A seed diamond is a single crystal diamond in a slice about as thick as human hair, that upon being subject to these conditions— grows. 

Ruoff’s team however has circumvented these hurdles by changing their school of thought by just a little. “For over a decade, I have been thinking about new ways to grow diamonds, as I thought it might be possible to achieve this in what might be unexpected (per ‘conventional’ thinking) ways,” Ruoff told Live Science. 

The process his team has pioneered requires atmospheric pressure and can produce diamonds in 15 minutes, contrary to the two weeks it takes for the HPHT method. The speed and simplicity of this method can revolutionise diamond manufacturing at large. 

The breakthrough came from a variety of experiments involving electrically heated gallium mixed with a small amount of silicon, all housed within a graphite crucible. When this seed is maintained at sea-level atmospheric pressure, it results in the rapid formation of diamonds. After a series of such experiments, the researchers discovered that a gallium-nikel-iron mixture, enhanced with a trace of silicon, created the conditions required for diamond synthesis. 

However, this method is still in it’s early stages of research. The diamonds that this method produces are very small, with the largest of it’s produce being thousands of times smaller than those grown using the HPHT method. Ruoff understands that significant research must go into this before it can be cleared up for commercial use or have any weightage on the current scenario of diamond trade. “In about a year or two, the world might have a clearer picture of things like possible commercial impact,” Ruoff said. 

If appropriated into modern trade, this may change the outlook of the diamond industry forever. I may reduce the environmental and humanitarian impact of the tradition production of diamonds and increase it’s demand. The most expensive stones are expensive because of how rare they are. If the production cost of diamonds reduce, so does it’s elusiveness. But one cannot be too sure on how much of it’s exclusivity would be impacted, considering that rarity of a diamond also constitutes the brunt of time it takes. Millions of years, reduced to minutes decreases novelty. 

Hence, a change in paradigm lingers on the horizon if Ruoff can manage to bring the research to market front and implementation. 

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