Improving and simplifying the methods of obtaining artificial diamonds is a constant topic of many researches. Recently, a team of Chinese scientists has developed a method of synthesis that, although far from perfect, is done at the lowest temperature.
Synthetic diamonds are generally produced by the hydrothermal method – at about 800 °C, using water, carbon and metal under high pressure. There are also known other methods of obtaining diamonds, but generally they do not give single crystals. The newly developed method is more like organic synthesis – action not by force, but by method. It consists in reducing carbon tetrachloride with sodium, on a nickel-manganese-cobalt alloy as a catalyst. The process temperature was 700 °C, i.e. 100 °C less than before.
As a result of this reaction, a fine grey powder is obtained – mostly amorphous carbon. However, beyond doubt, 2% of this powder is single diamonds – with characteristic, regular symmetry. The newly developed method creates great hopes. The use of other reagents, for example ethane or methane substituted entirely with chlorine or bromine, and other catalysts can, according to the authors of this synthesis, significantly improve the process.
