Synthesis of nanocrystalline diamond from glassy carbon balls

Publication date: 15 February 2015
Source:Journal of Crystal Growth, Volume 412
Author(s): N.A. Solopova , N. Dubrovinskaia , L. Dubrovinsky
Here we report the high-pressure and high-temperature synthesis of nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) from glassy carbon balls using a multianvil apparatus. Different chemical compounds were used as the synthesis and pressure transmitting media. A detailed characterization of the synthesized products was performed using optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fully optically transparent nanocrystalline diamond micro-balls and lenses with complete optical transparency and the size of about 15–40μm were synthesized at a static pressure of 18GPa in the temperature range of 1850–2000°С using MgO as a pressure medium.