Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Scientists Discover Diamond Nanothreads

Posted by timothy on from the this-nanoring-shows-how-much-I-care dept.

First time accepted submitter sokol815 writes Penn State University scientists discovered diamond nanothreads can be created from benzene when compressed. The compression brings the benzene molecules into a highly reactive state. It was expected that the molecules would create a non-ordered glass-like material, but due to the slow speed of decompression used, the benzene molecules ordered themselves into a naturally repeating crystal. The experiment took place at room-temperature. Early results indicate that these nanothreads are stronger than previously produced carbon nanotubes, and may have applications throughout the engineering industry.

6 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Yes, but.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Should it be called Diamondium or Diamondillium?

    1. Re:Yes, but.. by iggymanz · · Score: 5, Informative

      it's not diamond nor did the original paper claim it was: http://www.nature.com/nmat/jou...

  2. How about "not diamond"? by justthinkit · · Score: 3, Informative

    How about "not diamond"?

    Diamond is characterized by each carbon bonding with 4 other carbons. You can't get a thread out of it. You might claim that you have, but all along that thread there will be carbons not bonded to four others. Those are called defects.

    From a diamond point-of-view, this stuff would be considered defect-laden pseudo-'diamond', or just simply not diamond.

    Still, sexy headline.

    --
    I come here for the love
    1. Re:How about "not diamond"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      The researchers themselves didn't use the D word but called the material "close- packed bundles of subnanometre-diameter sp3-bonded carbon threads capped with hydrogen, crystalline in two dimensions and short-range ordered in the third"

    2. Re:How about "not diamond"? by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 5, Insightful

      According to the preview on the Nature site each carbon atom is linked to 3 other carbon atoms and one hydrogen. Plastic is a better description than diamond. "Normal" carbon nanotubes are closer to diamond than this.
      The preview didn't call it a diamond by the way. It does equate it's properties to diamondoids and nanotubes.

      Having said that, if the result is a non-toxic high tensile strength material that can be used to make a space elevator then I don't really care what they call it. It's cool anyway.
      They could call it "Superdung" and I'd still love the stuff.

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
  3. Re:Elevator in the sky with diamonds by Guy+Harris · · Score: 3, Funny

    You wouldn't guess from the summary that the article title is "Going up! Cosmic elevator could reach space on a cable made of diamonds".

    Breaking news: Slashdot submission headline less hyperbolic than TFA's headline.

    In other news, Satan cuts ribbon to celebrate the opening of a new ski resort. Film at 11.