Crystallization of diamond below 1 atm from carbon–metal mixtures

Abstract

We report the result that various forms of solid carbon can be converted, essentially completely, to well crystallized diamond below atmospheric pressure if mixed with small amounts (ca. 1–10 wt.%) of metallic Mo (or Cu or Ni) and heated in a pure H₂[or H₂–(1%)CH₄] plasma, excited typically in a 2.45 GHz microwave field at 600–1000 °C.