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Reversible nanodiamond-carbon onion phase transformations
1State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Institute of Optoelectronic and Functional Composite Materials, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong People's Republic of China.
Laser irradiation enables reversible phase transformation between nanodiamonds and carbon onions, with a bucky diamond intermediate. This discovery offers insights into meteoritic nanodiamond origins and controllable carbon allotrope pathways.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Nanodiamonds (3-5 nm) are crucial models for studying graphite-diamond phase transformations.
- Understanding phase transitions in carbon allotropes is of significant scientific interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a reversible phase transformation between nanodiamonds and carbon onions.
- To investigate the role of a bucky diamond intermediate phase.
- To elucidate the underlying physics using nanoscale thermodynamic approaches.
Main Methods:
- Laser irradiation of colloidal nanodiamond suspensions at ambient conditions.
- Observation of intermediary bucky diamond phase during transformations.
- Application of nanoscale thermodynamic models.
Main Results:
- Achieved reversible nanodiamond-carbon onion phase transformation via laser irradiation.
- Identified a bucky diamond phase as an intermediate in both forward and reverse transitions.
- Demonstrated carbon onions acting as nanoscale temperature and pressure cells.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a novel reversible phase transformation pathway involving nanodiamonds, carbon onions, and bucky diamond.
- Findings provide insights into the origin of meteoritic nanodiamonds.
- Offers a method for controlled manipulation of pathways between diamond and carbon allotropes.
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