New method instantly turns carbon into graphene or diamonds

Scientists at Rice University have developed a way to convert carbon from various sources into useful carbon.

shapes, for example into graphene or diamonds. The new technique uses a "flash" of electricity to heat the carbon. The length of the flash determines its final shape.

The method itself is known as pulsejoule heating (FJH, flash joule heating), and a team of scientists first described it in January 2020. An electric current is passed through the carbonaceous materials, heating them to about 2,727 ° C, which turns the carbon into pristine turbostratic graphene flakes.

Researchers have now improved the processto create other materials. The initial flares lasted 10 milliseconds, but scientists have found that by changing their duration from 10 to 500 milliseconds, carbon can be produced in other forms. For example, in the form of nanodiamonds.

In industry, small diamonds have long been used in cutting tools and as electrical insulators.

The study was published in the journalACS Nano.

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