diamond-anvil pressure cell

The diamond-anvil pressure cell is a machine that uses two gem-quality diamonds to apply force to a sample, enabling scientists to study materials under extreme pressure. Invented in 1958, this device revolutionized high-pressure research because diamonds are transparent to various forms of electromagnetic radiation, allowing for visual observation and experimental techniques like X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy.1

The addition of a metal gasket between the diamond faces created a sample chamber, allowing for the confinement and study of liquids and single crystals under pressure. Diamond-anvil cells hold records for sustained high pressures, reaching approximately 300 GPa, and can be combined with heating to simulate conditions within the Earth's interior. This technology is crucial for understanding material properties under extreme conditions, with applications including the synthesis of synthetic diamonds.12