World smallest diamond coin has been created by a group of Scientists at the University of Glasgow for a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee. The coin created at James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, University of Glasgow using a laboratory-grown diamond covered in a special polymer. The coin measures just 750 nanometres across and features an image of the Queen’s profile just 580 nanometres high. They're using a high-resolution electron beam lithography and print the Queen’s head onto the polymer. The pattern was then transferred to the diamond using a process known as ICP reactive ion etching. The creation of the coin were done by PhD student Andrew Greer under the direction of Dr David Moran, lead of the Nano-Electronic Diamond Devices and Systems group. The creation of the coin was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Dr Moran said: “We’re proud to be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with the creation of the world’s smallest diamond coin.
“Diamond is not just an attractive material for use in jewellery; it also has a range of unique physical properties which make it ideal for use in a range of advanced fields of engineering. It’s an excellent thermal conductor and has a high tolerance for radiation, which makes it perfect for use in applications such as electronic transistors and robust enough to be used in challenging environments such as outer space.
“We’re researching a wide range of practical applications for diamond technology and creating this diamond coin is an excellent way to demonstrate the capabilities of the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre.”
Source:University of Glasgow.
Its a history to world coin community since that will be the world smallest coin too. If someone asked you what is the world smallest coin in the world today, you can answered them, A diamond coin for Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee by University of Glasgow scientists but maybe the issue here is that the coin don't have any face value or legal tender to any country. It is just a face of Her Majesty the Queen. Wish they can finish it to make it look like a real coin.
For video of the nano diamond coin, you can go to University of Glasgow website: Diamond Jubilee celebrated with creation of world’s smallest diamond coin.
