Work

An Undergraduate’s Journey in Creating Lab-Made Gemstones: Nanoscale to Macroscale Synthesis of Rubies and Sapphires

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: We present an inquiry-based lab approach that enabled undergraduate students to synthesize ruby and sapphire gemstones not only as nanocrystals but also as macroscopic crystals through assisted microwave combustion synthesis and a flux growth method. This approach is highly involving for the students and can be used as a support to easily train them on more theoretical knowledge such as spectroscopy, light properties (e.g., light scattering), binary diagrams, etc. and connect them to laboratory experiments. The trial-and-error process that led to the final procedure was spread over a few years and showed how involvement, imagination, and curiosity can remain high even in a multiyear process involving different generations of students.

Source: Journal of Chemical Education

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00799

Authors: Jean-Sébastien Filhol, Florence Rouessac, Anne-Laure Dalverny, Géraldine Schott-Leyral, Laurent Bernaud

Institutions: École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Montpellier, Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, Institut Européen des Membranes

Language: English

Topic: Various Chemistry Research Topics

Subfield: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: green

Funder: Université de Montpellier