Comparative Study of the Surface Behavior of Single Crystal Submicron-Sized Diamond

Abstract

A submicron-sized diamond under 50 nm was prepared by ball-milling synthetic single crystalline diamonds. The average particle size from the crushed of the diamond exhibited a linear relation with its specific surface area as plotted on a double logarithmic coordinate, and the resultant diamond could be easily distinguished from a polycrystalline diamond made by dynamic compression. The submicron-sized diamond surface was chemically active and easily attacked by oxidizer or hydrogen under heating. Also TEM observation showed a thick non-diamond carbon layer on the surface of the submicron-sized diamond heated in nitrogen. Its formation apparently was triggered by the removal of oxygen from the diamond surface.