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Synthesis of paracrystalline diamond

Author

Listed:
  • Hu Tang

    (Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research)

  • Xiaohong Yuan

    (Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research)

  • Yong Cheng

    (Xiamen University)

  • Hongzhan Fei

    (University of Bayreuth)

  • Fuyang Liu

    (Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research)

  • Tao Liang

    (Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research)

  • Zhidan Zeng

    (Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research)

  • Takayuki Ishii

    (Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research
    University of Bayreuth)

  • Ming-Sheng Wang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Tomoo Katsura

    (University of Bayreuth)

  • Howard Sheng

    (George Mason University)

  • Huiyang Gou

    (Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research
    Yanshan University)

Abstract

Solids in nature can be generally classified into crystalline and non-crystalline states1–7, depending on whether long-range lattice periodicity is present in the material. The differentiation of the two states, however, could face fundamental challenges if the degree of long-range order in crystals is significantly reduced. Here we report a paracrystalline state of diamond that is distinct from either crystalline or amorphous diamond8–10. The paracrystalline diamond reported in this work, consisting of sub-nanometre-sized paracrystallites that possess a well-defined crystalline medium-range order up to a few atomic shells4,5,11–13, was synthesized in high-pressure high-temperature conditions (for example, 30 GPa and 1,600 K) employing face-centred cubic C60 as a precursor. The structural characteristics of the paracrystalline diamond were identified through a combination of X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission microscopy and advanced molecular dynamics simulation. The formation of paracrystalline diamond is a result of densely distributed nucleation sites developed in compressed C60 as well as pronounced second-nearest-neighbour short-range order in amorphous diamond due to strong sp3 bonding. The discovery of paracrystalline diamond adds an unusual diamond form to the enriched carbon family14–16, which exhibits distinguishing physical properties and can be furthered exploited to develop new materials. Furthermore, this work reveals the missing link in the length scale between amorphous and crystalline states across the structural landscape, having profound implications for recognizing complex structures arising from amorphous materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu Tang & Xiaohong Yuan & Yong Cheng & Hongzhan Fei & Fuyang Liu & Tao Liang & Zhidan Zeng & Takayuki Ishii & Ming-Sheng Wang & Tomoo Katsura & Howard Sheng & Huiyang Gou, 2021. "Synthesis of paracrystalline diamond," Nature, Nature, vol. 599(7886), pages 605-610, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:599:y:2021:i:7886:d:10.1038_s41586-021-04122-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04122-w
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jianan Yin & Yang Yan & Mulin Miao & Jiayin Tang & Jiali Jiang & Hui Liu & Yuhan Chen & Yinxian Chen & Fucong Lyu & Zhengyi Mao & Yunhu He & Lei Wan & Binbin Zhou & Jian Lu, 2024. "Diamond with Sp2-Sp3 composite phase for thermometry at Millikelvin temperatures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Yao Tang & Haikuo Wang & Xiaoping Ouyang & Chao Wang & Qishan Huang & Qingkun Zhao & Xiaochun Liu & Qi Zhu & Zhiqiang Hou & Jiakun Wu & Zhicai Zhang & Hao Li & Yikan Yang & Wei Yang & Huajian Gao & Ha, 2024. "Overcoming strength-ductility tradeoff with high pressure thermal treatment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Yuchen Shang & Mingguang Yao & Zhaodong Liu & Rong Fu & Longbiao Yan & Long Yang & Zhongyin Zhang & Jiajun Dong & Chunguang Zhai & Xuyuan Hou & Liting Fei & GuanJie Zhang & Jianfeng Ji & Jie Zhu & He , 2023. "Enhancement of short/medium-range order and thermal conductivity in ultrahard sp3 amorphous carbon by C70 precursor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Xingjia He & Yu Zhang & Xinlei Gu & Jiangwei Wang & Jinlei Qi & Jun Hao & Longpeng Wang & Hao Huang & Mao Wen & Kan Zhang & Weitao Zheng, 2023. "Pt-induced atomic-level tailoring towards paracrystalline high-entropy alloy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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