Nucleation and Growth of Diamond in High Pressure

Abstract

In diamond synthesis by metal film growth method under high pressure and high temperature, the nucleation and growth of diamond was observed dependent on the carbon source variation from graphite powder to the heat treated powders of lamp black carbon. At the low driving force condition near equilibrium pressure and temperature line, nucleation of diamond did not occur but growth of seed diamond appeared in the synthesis from lamp black carbon while both nucleation and growth of diamond took place in the synthesis from graphite. Growth morphology change of diamond occurred from cubo-octahedron to octahedron in the synthesis from graphite but very irregular growth of seed diamond occurred in the synthesis from lamp block carbon. Lamp black carbon transformed to recrystallized graphite first and very nucleation of diamond was observed on the recrystallized graphite surface. Growth morphology of diamond on the recrystallized graphite was clear cubo-octahedron even at higher pressure departure condition from equilibrium pressure and temperature line.