Scientists have discovered that an ultrathin form of diamond can generate electricity when bent—challenging an assumption held for more than a century.
Bulk diamond has traditionally been considered non-piezoelectric, meaning that deforming it was not expected to create an electrical voltage.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong investigated whether diamond might behave differently when made extraordinarily thin. Using an edge-exfoliation technique, they produced flexible polycrystalline diamond membranes only a few micrometers thick.
When the membranes were bent, the researchers detected stable and repeatable voltage signals. Extensive mechanical cycling and controlled experiments helped them rule out interference and electricity produced by surfaces rubbing together.
Computer modeling indicated that the effect originates at boundaries between the membrane’s microscopic diamond grains. Bending the material creates electrical polarization around these asymmetrical boundaries, producing a voltage between its surfaces.
The discovery does not mean that an ordinary gemstone can power a device when squeezed. It applies to specially manufactured, ultrathin polycrystalline diamond membranes.
Because diamond is exceptionally durable, chemically stable, biocompatible and able to tolerate extreme environments, the membranes could eventually be used in self-powered sensors, microscopic energy systems and implantable medical devices.
The technology remains experimental, and practical applications will require further development.
The research was published in Science Advances.
Could flexible diamond eventually power devices too small for conventional batteries?
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