Abstract

The NaOH+Ni+C system has been found to lead to diamond surface recrystallization from a liquid phase at atmospheric pressure and about 800C under appropriate experimental conditions. Critical aspects of the process include the following:

a) The simultaneous dissolution of nickel and diamond-carbon in the common solvent.

b) The formation of an intermediate nickel-carbon complex which facilitates the availability of sp³ carbon for subsequent recrystallization on diamond “seeds”.

The diamond formation is sensitive to experimental parameters such as pressure, temperature and time, besides nature and concentration of the chemical species involved. Preliminary results of varying some of these parameters are presented, these show variation in the overall growth morphology - from overgrowths of discrete morphology to continuous larger area deposits, under appropriate conditions.

© 1995 Optical Society of America