Ultrahard fullerite is almost twice as hard as diamond but new synthesis works at room temperature and lower pressure

Researchers from the Technological Institute for Superhard and Novel Carbon Materials in Troitsk, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), and Moscow State Univ. (MSU) have developed a new method for the synthesis of an ultrahard material that exceeds diamond in hardness. An article recently published in the journal Carbon describes in detail a method that allows for the synthesis of ultrahard fullerite, a polymer composed of fullerenes, or spherical molecules made of carbon atoms.

In their work, the scientists note that diamond hasn’t been the hardest material for some time now. Natural diamonds have a hardness of nearly 150 GPa, but ultrahard fullerite has surpassed diamond to become first on the list of hardest materials with values that range from 150 to 300 GPa.

Diamond anvils malformed during synthesis of ultrahard fullerite. Note the dent in the center.
Credit: Image courtesy of Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

Journal Carbon – Synthesis of ultrahard fullerite with a catalytic 3D polymerization reaction of C60

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