X-ray diffraction study of detonation nanodiamonds

Abstract

The paper addresses a structural analysis of detonation nanodiamonds. An analysis procedure is described which has been elaborated on the basis of a comparison between experimental and theoretical diffraction patterns calculated using computer models of nanodiamonds. Detonation nanodiamonds are characterized in terms of their shape, size, crystal lattice parameters, and distribution of atoms in them. The lattice parameters have been determined for new detonation nanodiamonds synthesized by us and other researchers. The quality of detonation nanodiamonds is assessed by the atom distribution which differs from that of natural diamonds and depends on the lattice parameters and size of the detonation nan-odiamonds. The lattice parameters of the detonation nanodiamonds synthesized in the presence of reductants have been found to correspond to that of natural diamond, thus suggesting a high quality of the synthetic nanodiamonds.