The recent discovery of carbon nitride by an international team of scientists has shown that these compounds can surpass cubic boron nitride in hardness, ranking just behind diamond. This finding opens a new window to the development of materials with exceptional properties, including superior strength and high heat tolerance.
Since the 1980s, the scientific community has pursued the potential of carbon nitrides, attracted by their extraordinary properties. Despite dedicated efforts, success in the synthesis of these materials had remained “unattainable” until now, when researchers at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Bayreuth and Linköping University, have achieved a significant breakthrough.
Scientific rediscovery in Europe
By applying extreme heat and pressures, from 70 to 135 giga pascals, tocarbon and nitrogen precursors, the team has synthesized carbon nitrides with promising results. The atomic structure of these compounds was analyzed using high-intensity X-ray beams at state-of-the-art research facilities in France, Germany and the United States, revealing their “superhardness” potential.
These results showed that three varieties of carbon nitrides possess the essential qualities to classify them as superhardness materials. These compounds maintained their diamond-like characteristics even after returning to normal pressure and temperature conditions, a discovery that significantly broadens their applicability in a variety of areas.
Outstanding properties of carbon nitride
However, it is known that one of its main strengths is its toughness. On the other hand, it was identified that they possess photoluminescence properties and high energy density, which indicates their ability to store a considerable amount of energy in a reduced mass. These additional features suggest potential applications in fields as diverse as engineering, biomedical and power generation.
Funding from the United Kingdom and the European Union has supported this project, underlining the importance of international collaboration in advanced scientific research. The involvement of academic entities and investment in frontier science have been key to reaching this milestone.
Carbon nitride, with its robustness and resistance to heat
Dr. Dominique Laniel, of the Edinburgh team, expressed his amazement at the discovery of these materials, highlighting the potential to bridge the gap between high-pressure synthesis and industrial applications. This breakthrough not only validates decades of research, but also motivates the exploration of new practical applications.
Dr. Florian Trybel, UL, highlighted the multifunctionality of the materials and the possibility of recovering technologically relevant phases from extreme conditions. This scientific collaboration promises to open up new avenues of research and development in the field of advanced materials.
Carbon nitride, with its robustness and heat resistance, is emerging as an ideal material for a multitude of industrial applications. As research progresses and affordable production methods are explored, it is anticipated that these materials could set new standards for performance in extreme conditions, competing with synthetic diamond and cubic boron nitride in their respective markets.
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Source: oilprice.com
Photo: aTech ES
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