Heterogeneous nucleation of diamond under high static pressure and high temperature

The patterns of diamond formation during synthesis under high pressure and temperature were observed in carbon/solvent-catalyst alloy (Ni70Mn25Co5) solutions, to which respectively B4C, β-SiC, perfectly crystalline graphite and C60 fullerene particles were added by a spot-coating process. The diamonds nucleate at the sites where the additives exist. The additives all are effective in the enhancement of diamond nucleation which suggests that the diamonds nucleate heterogeneously using the solid surfaces of the added particles as substrates.