Researchers develop diamond micromachines using amorphous diamond, eliminating internal stresses and reducing stiction. The machines have potential applications in medical devices, such as drug-dispensing units, without generating allergic reactions.
A new theory proposes that some of the carbon in diamonds originates from supernovae explosions and meteorites, rather than organic materials. This idea is supported by the antiquity of diamonds and similarities in carbon isotopic ratios to those found in meteorites.
Scientists have successfully synthesized a new cubic phase of silicon nitride with exceptional hardness, outperforming stishovite, a high-pressure modification of SiO2. The novel material has the potential to replace diamond in certain technological applications where its extreme hardness is required.
Sandia researchers develop a simple way to relieve internal stresses in amorphous diamond films, creating thick, stress-free coatings that are harder than known coatings. The coatings have also been used to create large-area free-standing membranes with desirable properties such as high hardness and low friction.
Scientists have developed techniques to directly image the deformation of materials like diamond under ultrahigh pressures, showing that it can bend without failing. The results suggest ways to improve high-pressure techniques and reveal enhanced material strength at extreme pressures.