Observation of an Ultrahard Phase of Graphite Quenched from High-pressure

Abstract

In-situ isothermal high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and optical Raman spectroscopy were used to examine the structural properties, equation of state, and vibrational dynamics of highly ordered pyrolytic graphite. The x-ray measurements show that the pressure-volume relations remain smooth to near 5.9 GPa, where there is an abrupt discontinuity. This discontinuity is correlated to a hexagonal-to-monoclinic phase transition, which was previously predicted via ab initio crystal structure algorithms. However, discontinuities in the Raman vibrational modes do not appear until near 19 GPa. The discrepancy in the onset pressure of the phase transition is correlated to edge effects. The high-pressure monoclinic phase was recovered to ambient pressure and remains stable for long periods.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA538038

Entities

People

  • Jennifer A Ciezak-Jenkins

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Crystal Structure
  • Crystals
  • Diffraction
  • Equations
  • Fullerenes
  • Graphitic Materials
  • High Pressure
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Phase Transformations
  • Physical Properties
  • Raman Spectroscopy
  • Scattering
  • Spectra
  • Spectroscopy
  • X Rays
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.