• 👍Maximum Derek👍
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    7 months ago

    Defense contractors want to grow diamond computer processors. Because silicon breaks down at high temperatures.

          • Zorque@kbin.social
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            7 months ago

            Just like humans are basically just trees, because they’re both carbon based lifeforms, right?

          • 👍Maximum Derek👍
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            7 months ago

            Carbon, compressed hard enough it becomes diamond, forms a square crystal lattice that is so crazy stable that it’s very resistant to change (including from burning).

              • 👍Maximum Derek👍
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                7 months ago

                I don’t know specific temps, but graphite forms a hexagonal lattice that is highly stable on 2 dimensions. The bonds between layers of hexagons are weaker which lets it be brittle in all the ways we love graphite. I’m not sure how this specific geometry changes the affinity to bond to oxygen.