In a groundbreaking achievement, Chinese researchers have successfully synthesized hexagonal diamond, a rare form of diamond previously found only in meteorites, within a laboratory setting. This milestone marks a significant leap forward in the development of superhard materials with potential applications in advanced electronics and industrial uses.

The study, published in Nature, details how scientists at the Centre for High-Pressure Science & Technology Advanced Research transformed ultra-pure natural graphite into high-purity hexagonal diamond under precisely controlled high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Using real-time X-ray imaging to monitor the structural changes during synthesis, the team overcame long-standing challenges in producing this unique crystal structure.

Hexagonal diamonds, also known as lonsdaleites, possess a more robust atomic arrangement than conventional cubic diamonds, granting them superior hardness and thermal properties. Previous laboratory attempts often yielded ordinary cubic diamonds, but the new method produced defect-free, micrometre-sized hexagonal diamond samples.

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Lead researcher Yang Liuxiang emphasized that the use of impurity-free graphite and in-situ monitoring were key to this success. High-pressure science expert Ho-kwang Mao hailed the breakthrough as a “new pathway” toward next-generation superhard materials, which could revolutionize industrial applications requiring extreme durability.

This synthetic hexagonal diamond, despite its small size, holds promise to outperform natural diamonds in both mechanical strength and electronic performance, potentially redefining future material science innovations.

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