Production of diamond and solid-solution nanoparticles in the carbon-silicon system using radio-frequency plasma

Diamond and solid-solution nanoparticles were prepared in the carbon-silicon system using radio-frequency plasma. It was observed that when carbon and silicon were evaporated without the radio frequency plasma field, β-Si particles were produced. The crystal surfaces of SiC particles were covered with an amorphous carbon film of 3nm thickness, which was determined using high-resolution TEM technique by direct observation of the interface. It was proposed that diamond formation in inter-stellar environments is accelerated by the existence of silicon and space plasma. It was suggested that diamonds are widely present in the space.