Carbon Nitrides, New Material Rivaling Diamonds in Hardness, Synthesized by Scientists

The breakthrough fulfills a 1989 prediction, opening potential applications in spacecraft coatings, solar panels, and industrial tools.

Scientists have synthesized a new material, carbon nitrides, that rivals diamonds in hardness.
The research team was led by the University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with the University of Bayreuth, Germany, and the University of Linköping, Sweden.
Carbon nitrides were created using extreme pressure and high temperatures, and retained their durability at normal atmospheric conditions and room temperature.
The new material could potentially be used in a variety of applications, including protective coatings for spacecraft and vehicles, solar panels, and cutting and drilling tools.
The successful synthesis of carbon nitrides fulfills a prediction made by theoretical physicists in 1989, marking a significant breakthrough in materials science.