Graphene’s enduring appeal lies in its remarkable combination of lightness, flexibility, and strength. Now, researchers have shown that under pressure, it can briefly take on the traits of one of its more glamorous carbon cousins.

By introducing nitrogen atoms and applying pressure, a team of scientists has coaxed bilayer graphene grown through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) into a diamond-like phase—without the need for extreme heat. The finding, reported in Advanced Materials Technologies, shows a scalable way to create ultrathin coatings that combine the toughness of diamond with the processability of graphene.