Formation of diamond in carbon onions under MeV ion irradiation

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.119990· OSTI ID:633971

Wesolowski, P; Lyutovich, Y; Banhart, F; Carstanjen, H D; Kronmueller, H ^[1]

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1. 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, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 71; ISSN 0003-6951; ISSN APPLAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTAL-PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
DIAMONDS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENERGY-LOSS SPECTROSCOPY
GRAPHITE
MEV RANGE 01-10
NEON IONS
NUCLEATION
RADIATION EFFECTS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY