Diamond Anvil (IMAGE)

Terry Collins Assoc

Diamond Anvil

Caption

A tiny "diamond anvil" pressure cooker was used in Lyon, France to produce hydrogen at remarkable speed. Enclosed between diamonds -- Earth's hardest material -- and within a tiny space about the width of a pencil lead (shown in the center of the image), scientists applied very high pressure and 200-300 degrees C heat to a mixture of aluminum oxide, water and the mineral olivine. Hydrogen was produced overnight instead of over weeks, as expected.

Credit

Herve Cardon, University of Lyon-1

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