The diamond paradox: Scientists describe the path to the most stable structure
Researchers from Skoltech (part of the VEB.RF Group) and MISIS University have figured out why graphite turns into an unexpected form of diamond under high pressure. Instead of the familiar cubic diamond, the first structure to form is metastable lonsdaleite—a hexagonal form of diamond in which carbon atoms are arranged in layers differently than in ordinary diamond.
We haven't written up this one. Phys.org has the full story — the link below goes straight to it.
