A Reduction-Pyrolysis-Catalysis Synthesis of Diamond

Diamond powder was synthesized through a metallic reduction-pyrolysis-catalysis route with the reaction of carbon tetrachloride and sodium at 700°C, in which the sodium was used as reductant and flux. This temperature is much lower than that of traditional methods. The x-ray powder diffraction patterns showed three strong peaks of diamond. The Raman spectrum showed a sharp peak at 1332 inverse centimeters, which is characteristic of diamond. Although the yield was only 2 percent, this method is a simple means of forming diamond.