Laser shocks turn plastic into ultra-small, high-purity nanodiamonds

Nanodiamonds, which are ultra-small diamond particles, are known for their exceptional hardness, stability, and heat resistance. Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and the University of Rostock have discovered a new method to produce these nanodiamonds in a highly controlled manner using high-powered lasers.

By compressing plastic with lasers, they are able to generate ultra-small diamonds with a narrow size distribution, a process that is not possible with conventional methods such as explosions. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize the production of ultra-small nanodiamonds, making it more scalable, clean, and sustainable.

The breakthrough was first observed while the researchers were studying the conditions under which nanodiamonds form inside planets like Neptune and Uranus. They were surprised by how quickly nanodiamonds formed under these extreme conditions and saw a potential for technical applications. The experiments were conducted at a unique laser facility called ELI in Prague, where high-power lasers are fired at plastic films at a rate of three times per minute.

The resulting nanodiamonds are ejected from the film and collected using a vacuum-compatible, water-soluble ionic gel. After purification, the nanodiamonds were successfully detected and characterized using advanced electron microscopy techniques. The researchers believe that this new method of producing nanodiamonds from plastic has great potential for various applications, including quantum sensors, medical contrast agents, and efficient catalysts.

They are also working on increasing the production volume to reach the milligram range, which is comparable to conventional production methods.