Published On 4/23/2026
Diamonds are known among people as a material that resists scratching, is used to cut the hardest metals, and is known for its hardness, but an international research team recently challenged that vision, after announcing that “nano” forms of diamonds could somehow be “rubber.”
According to the study, the results of which were published in the journal Physical Review
The surprise is that these crystals, although they are made of the same solid material that we know, do not behave in the same way when the scale is at this level. Rather, the smallest particles studied, with a size of 4 nanometers, showed a decrease in hardness by about 30% compared to the larger particles, while maintaining high durability.
These results came from very precise experiments, where the researchers used a special tool known as a “diamond anvil cell,” in which nanoparticles are placed between two diamond surfaces, and then subjected to intense pressure.
At the same time, the team used a transmission electron microscope to observe what was happening inside the material at the atomic level, while computer simulations supported these observations. This methodology allowed scientists to see how atoms actually move when diamonds are subjected to pressure.
Promising applications
According to the study, the researchers found that the real reason for this flexibility lies in a very thin layer located directly under the surface, and in this region, the carbon bonds are slightly different from those in the core of solid diamond, as they are less compact and relatively longer, which makes them mechanically weaker.
Thus, a triple structure is formed within the same piece of diamond, consisting of a very hard inner core, a strong outer shell, and a relatively weaker interlayer. This interlayer acts as a microscopic cushion, according to scientists, absorbing part of the pressure and giving the particle the ability to bend, as if it were somewhat rubbery.
However, according to the study, nanodiamonds do not turn into a soft material in the traditional sense, but rather become more able to withstand stress without cracking.
This discovery has promising practical applications, as the combination of high rigidity and relative flexibility is a dream in the world of materials engineering, especially in nanosensors, which need materials that can withstand vibration without breaking.
This technology can also be useful in advanced computing techniques, including quantum computing, where nanomaterials are used in highly sensitive environments, and in detecting viruses and gases through precise sensors that rely on small mechanical changes.
