Trending Now - Scientists Develop New Hexagonal Diamond Tougher Than Natural Form

WHO:

Researchers from China’s Henan Key Laboratory of Diamond Materials and Devices

The study was published in the journal Nature

WHAT:

Chinese scientists claim to have created a hexagonal diamond, which is stronger than natural diamonds.

The hardness of the hexagonal diamond sample is around 114 gigapascals.

Natural diamonds have a hardness of around 110 gigapascals.

The study describes the synthesis of a millimetre-sized, phase-pure hexagonal diamond from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG).

WHERE:

The research was conducted in China.

WHEN:

The study was published in 2026.

The process involved applying 20 gigapascals of pressure, which is around 200,000 times the pressure of our atmosphere.

The temperatures during the process ranged from 1,300°C to 1,900°C.

WHY:

The existence of hexagonal diamonds has long been debated due to a lack of solid experimental evidence.

HOW:

Researchers placed a highly ordered form of graphite between anvils made of tungsten carbide and applied extreme pressure and heat.

X-ray diffraction was used to prove the structural purity of the hexagonal diamond sample.

Advanced microscopy was employed to observe the unique hexagonal stacking patterns of the carbon atoms.

(UPDATED March 17, 2026 05:27 UTC)

Researchers from China’s Henan Key Laboratory of Diamond Materials and Devices have announced the creation of a hexagonal diamond that surpasses the hardness of natural diamonds, achieving a remarkable hardness of around 114 gigapascals compared to the 110 gigapascals of natural diamonds. The study, published in the journal Nature, details how the team synthesized this millimeter-sized diamond from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite by applying extreme pressure of 20 gigapascals and temperatures ranging from 1,300 to 1,900 degrees Celsius. Using advanced techniques like X-ray diffraction and microscopy, the researchers confirmed the structural purity and unique hexagonal stacking patterns of the carbon atoms in this newly developed material.