Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis investigated diamond dust as a material for stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI). SAI tries to copy volcanic cooling by putting reflective particles high in the atmosphere so they send sunlight back to space.
The team used computer calculations to study synthetic diamond dust made by detonation synthesis, a method that creates diamond soot by exploding a carbon mixture in a metal chamber. The simulations show the dust contains residual carbon impurities, about 1–5% by mass, and some sp2 carbon that increases light absorption. Because of this extra absorption and reduced scattering, the researchers conclude detonation-made nanodiamonds are not suitable for SAI.
Difficult words
- stratospheric — related to the layer high in the atmosphere
- aerosol — tiny particles or droplets in the air
- detonation — a strong explosion that makes new material
- impurity — a small unwanted substance inside somethingimpurities
- absorption — process when material takes in light or energy
- scattering — when particles send light in new directions
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Discussion questions
- Do you think copying volcanic cooling with particles is a good idea? Why or why not?
- Would you prefer scientists to test materials with computer simulations or real experiments first? Explain briefly.
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