Synthesis and characterization of a nanocrystalline diamond aerogel

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1010600108
• Publication Date: 2011-05-10T06:10:02Z
• Authors: Peter J. Pauzauskie; Jonathan C. Crowh...; Marcus A. Worsley; Ted A. Laurence; A. L. David Kilcoyne; Yinmin Wang; Trevor M. Willey; Kenneth S. Visbeck; Sirine C. Fakra; William J. Evans; Joseph M. Zaug; Joe H. Satcher
• Keywords: Point Defects; Morphology; Diamonds; Silicon; Nitrogen; 36 Materials Science; Surface Area; Neon; Electrons; 02 engineering and technology; 540; 530; Carbon; Synthesis; Precursor; 0210 nano-technology; Photoluminescence

Aerogel materials have myriad scientific and technological applications due to their large intrinsic surface areas and ultralow densities. However, creating a nanodiamond aerogel matrix has remained an outstanding and intriguing challenge. Here we report the high-pressure, high-temperature synthesis of a diamond aerogel from an amorphous carbon aerogel precursor using a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. Neon is used as a chemically inert, near-hydrostatic pressure medium that prevents collapse of the aerogel under pressure by conformally filling the aerogel’s void volume. Electron and X-ray spectromicroscopy confirm the aerogel morphology and composition of the nanodiamond matrix. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements of recovered material reveal the formation of both nitrogen- and silicon- vacancy point-defects, suggesting a broad range of applications for this nanocrystalline diamond aerogel.