Creation of pure non-crystalline diamond nanostructures via room-temperature ion irradiation and subsequent thermal annealing. Issue 14 (15th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Picollo, F.; Battiato, A.; Bosia, F.; Scaffidi Muta, F.; Olivero, P.; Rigato, V.; Rubanov, S.
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale advances. Volume 3:Issue 14(2021)
• Page Start: 4156
• Page End: 4165
• Publication Date: 2021-06-15
• Subjects: 620.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d1na00136a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2516-0230

Abstract

Abstract : It is possible to create full-sp 3 amorphous nanostructures within the bulk crystal of diamond with room-temperature ion-beam irradiation, followed by an annealing process that does not involve the application of any external mechanical pressure. Abstract : Carbon exhibits a remarkable range of structural forms, due to the availability of sp 3, sp 2 and sp 1 chemical bonds. Contrarily to other group IV elements such as silicon and germanium, the formation of an amorphous phase based exclusively on sp 3 bonds is extremely challenging due to the strongly favored formation of graphitic-like structures at room temperature and pressure. As such, the formation of a fully sp 3 -bonded carbon phase requires an extremely careful (and largely unexplored) definition of the pressure and temperature across the phase diagram. Here, we report on the possibility of creating full-sp 3 amorphous nanostructures within the bulk crystal of diamond with room-temperature ion-beam irradiation, followed by an annealing process that does not involve the application of any external mechanical pressure. As confirmed by numerical simulations, the (previously unreported) radiation-damage-induced formation of an amorphous sp 2 -free phase in diamond is determined by the buildup of extremely high internal stresses from the surrounding lattice, which (in the case of nanometer-scale regions) fully prevent the graphitization process. Besides the relevance of understanding the formation of exotic carbon phases, the use of focused/collimated ion beams discloses appealing perspectives for the direct fabrication of such nanostructures in complex three-dimensional geometries.