Formation of diamond in carbon onions under MeV ion irradiation
- Max-Planck-Institut fuer Metallforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart (Germany)
Spherical carbon onions are generated by irradiating graphitic carbon soot with Ne{sup +} ions of 3 MeV energy. Under continued irradiation, a transformation of their cores to cubic diamond crystals is observed. In comparison to earlier electron irradiation experiments, the yield of diamond is much higher. The output of the irradiation experiment is characterized by electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Knock-on displacements of carbon atoms by Ne{sup +} ions are assumed to be responsible for a self-compression of the onions, leading to the nucleation of diamond in their cores. The increased diamond yield is explained by the higher displacement cross-section, the higher energy transfer, and the higher total beam current on the specimen. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 633971
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 71, Issue 14; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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