How These Microscopic Diamonds Are Going to Shape the Future

No doubt you're already familiar with the many ways graphene promises to save us all, but there's another (so-called) miracle material out there vying for your attention-and it's sparkly, to boot. Say hello to the latest and greatest substance to kick science's ass straight into the future: the nanodiamond. Of course, you can't actually see any of these glittering gems, because at roughly five-nanometers-long (or about five billionths of a meter) nanodiamonds are invisible to the naked eye. But don't be fooled by their small stature; nanodiamonds have everyone from electrical engineers to oncologists buzzing about the wildly exciting doors they can open for us. Here's a look at all the ways they could make everybody's lives just a little bit better.
 

What Are Nanodiamonds?
Though preposterously helpful they may be, nanodiamonds actually owe their entire existence to one of the most destructive forces mankind has ever wrought: nuclear warfare.
In 1963, three Soviet scientists at the All-Union Research Institue of Technical Physics were hard at work researching nuclear bombs. As you can see in the animation below, in order for a bomb to blow, the core (be it plutonium, uranium, etc.) needs to be squeezed hard and fast. The easiest way to make that happen? Explosives, of course.
It just so happened that, in this case, our Soviet scientists used explosives that were carbon-based-you know, the same stuff diamonds are made from. They weren't at all expecting what they found, though; the residual soot from the explosives was littered with diamond nanoparticles (ranging in size from 4-10 nm). Not much of an engagement ring, no, but all this microscopic bling opens up a world of possibilities more incredible than any rock could ever hope to be.
Nanodiamonds are, in their most base form, carbon-based particles that are roughly 4 to 5 nanometers in diameter and covered in facets reminiscent of a soccer ball, which is part of what allows them to create such intense bonds with such a variety of different molecules. But what makes them so crucial in the advancement of quantum mechanics, biotechnology, and any other number of fields might surprise you: It's their flaws.
While any sort of color in a diamond usually kicks its value down a notch, no one's trying to buy or sell microscopic one based on the 4Cs. And in fact, a single, carefully controlled imperfection can give nanodiamonds an isolated color center, which lets nanodiamonds function as single, trapped atoms, so relative to their size, they have huge surface areas that allow them to form strong bonds with a variety of other materials. What's more, their non-toxicity means that nanodiamonds are perfectly suited to the many potential biomedical and mechanical uses just sitting at their sparkling fingertips.

A Bright Future
A Micro-Abrasive Additive
Diamond, being extremely hard and highly chemically stable, is one of the best abrasives in the natural world. Consequently, nanodiamond powder-which enjoys the abrasive qualities of diamond as well as the functional qualities of, well, powder-lends itself to creating highly effective polishes in the forms of paste, gels, etc., giving you the smoothest surfaces possible and opening up a world of potential.
While you can't run out and pick up a tube of nanodiamond lube just yet, more and more commercial applications for these incredible little gems are being realized by the day. For instance, for the gearheads among us, the auto-mechanic world is starting to look to nanodiamonds as an ideal oil additive. In internal combustion engines, the particles act like microscopic ball bearings, reducing friction between the pistons and engine walls. The result? An increased oil lifetime, less wear on the motor itself, and better fuel mileage, to boot. But it doesn't just stop at motors. Think of it as a futuristic WD-40 on crack.

Making Better Make-Up
Nanodiamonds have an unusually high absorption rate, so adding them to skincare products allows active ingredients to work at their peak potential. The nanodiamonds absorb more of the active ingredient than your skin would on its own, and as the nanodiamonds in turn penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, the active ingredient is carried with it.
It's not just the absorption of synthetic compounds that gives nanodiamonds a bright future in cosmetics. Nanodiamond molecules also form particularly strong bonds with water. So since any nanodiamond-based cream/lotion, in addition to being fully and rapidly absorbed by skin, would carry and keep water with it, it would keep skin hydrated for longer.
And though we have yet to see any actual, nanodiamond-laced beauty products on the market, the field is ripe with potential. Be it lotions, acne creams, or even prescription ointments, don't be surprised if, one day soon, you find yourself walking down a drugstore aisle just dripping with diamond-based gunk to slather on your skin.

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