Tiny nanodiamonds bend, not break, due to a hidden elastic layer
TL;DR
A custom electron microscope shows nanodiamonds deform elastically under pressure because a relatively weak bond between their surface layer and core, amplified by a large surface-to-core ratio, concentrates strain in an interfacial zone that absorbs the shock. Smaller diamonds (around 4 nm) are about 30% more stretchy than larger ones (around 13 nm), illustrating size-dependent elasticity and offering practical knobs for nanoscale devices like nanomechanical resonators and quantum sensors.
Topics:sciencephysics-and-chemistry#elasticity#interfacial-bonds#materials-science#nanodiamonds#physics-and-chemistry#surface-to-core-ratio
- Diamonds Get a Little Squishy at the Nanoscale. Here’s Why Gizmodo
- Put a nanodiamond under intense pressure and it becomes flexible Phys.org
- Stretching and squeezing diamond opens new path for ultra-precise quantum sensors Asia Research News |
- Diamonds are surprisingly elastic when you make them tiny New Scientist
- Diamond Stretching and Squeezing Paves Way for Ultra-Precise Quantum Sensors Bioengineer.org
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