Turning diamond into metal: Normally an insulator, diamond becomes a metallic conductor when subjected to large strain in a new theoretical model – Science Daily

Long known as the hardest of all natural materials, diamonds are also exceptional thermal conductors and electrical insulators. Now, researchers have discovered a way to tweak tiny needles of diamond in a controlled way to transform their electronic properties, dialing them from insulating, through semiconducting, all the way to highly conductive, or metallic. This can be induced dynamically and reversed at will, with no degradation of the diamond material.The research, though still at an early …

Click here to view the original article.