Synthesis and in-situ characterization of boron-doped superhard nanodiamond materials

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Leonid Dubrovinsky
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24757086

The overall scientific goals of the project are: (1) to investigate the path of formation of nanocrystalline and boron-doped diamonds in ´in situ´ high-pressure high-temperature experiments, (2) to synthesize a new boron-doped nanodiamond materials using diamond anvil cells and a large-volume multi-anvil apparatus, and (3) to study their physical-chemical, structural, elastic and bonding properties, equations of state and thermal stability, as well as electrical and electronic properties. In the proposed research, the formation of novel superhard diamond-like phases in the B¿C system will be systematically examined over wide pressure and temperature ranges using a laser heated diamond anvil cell (up to 50 GPa and 3000 K), a large-volume high P¿T apparatus (up to 25 GPa and 2500 K) and X-ray diffraction with in house and synchrotron radiation, as well as Raman spectroscopy. The structure and properties of quenched samples will be analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, hardness measurements, and electrical transport properties measurements.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1236: Synthesis, "In Situ" Characterisation and Quantum Mechanical Modelling of Earth Materials, Oxides, Carbides and Nitrides at Extremely High Pressures and Temperatures
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Hans Friedrich Braun