Laser shocks turn plastic into ultra-small, high-purity nanodiamonds

Scientists at HZDR and the University of Rostock have developed a method to produce ultra-small, high-purity nanodiamonds by compressing plastic with laser shocks. The method provides a narrow particle size distribution, unlike explosive technologies, and is scalable for clean production.

• Nanodiamonds typically measured in millionths of a millimeter
• Laser compression of plastic gives narrow particle size distribution
• Explosive methods cannot achieve such purity
• Technology scalable for medicine, catalysis, and energy