Understanding of the shape-controlled synthesis of strip shape diamond under high pressure and high temperature conditions

We present the shape-controlled synthesis of strip shape diamond with stretched crystal faces along {100} or {111} direction and larger length-to-radius ratio than the conventional diamond in the designed NiFe-C system at high pressures and high temperatures (HPHT). A series of synthetic experimental results on the strip shape diamonds were obtained at different pressures and temperatures. Under the constant pressure condition, the morphology of the strip shape diamond varied with the increase of temperature obviously. Fourier transform infrared (FIR) micro spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the various locations of crystal face have different nitrogen impurity concentration, and internal strain and defects in these strip shape crystals. According to these results, it can be concluded that the difference of growth rates at various crystal faces results in different crystal morphologies. Based on the growth characteristics, we suggest that composition segregation of the metal film around the growing crystal induces the formation of strip shape diamond. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.