title: Synthesis and characterization of a nanocrystalline diamond aerogel.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94551, USA. peterpz@uw.edu
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pauzauskie
authors.forename: Jonathan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Crowhurst
authors.forename: Marcus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Worsley
authors.forename: Ted A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Laurence
authors.forename: A L David
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kilcoyne
authors.forename: Yinmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Trevor M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Willey
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Visbeck
authors.forename: Sirine C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fakra
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zaug
authors.forename: Joe H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Satcher