Lognormal mass distributions of nanodiamonds from proportionate vapor growth

For the investigation of the statistical growth behavior of diamond nanoparticles in vapor phase, a direct mass distribution determination was performed using laser ablation/ionization mass spectrometry. Different types of samples were investigated: cosmic diamonds of presolar origin found in meteorites, and larger synthetic diamonds obtained from vapor detonation processes. All samples exhibit lognormal mass distributions which are indicative for size-dependant (i.e., proportionate) molecular growth similar to chemical vapor depositionlike processes. The distribution parameters are extracted and discussed against the background of the statistical theory.