RADIAL-DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF A NEW FORM OF AMORPHOUS DIAMOND SHOCK-INDUCED FROM C-60 FULLERENE

The radial distribution function of a new form of amorphous diamond, s ynthesized from C-60 fullerene by shock compression and rapid quenchin g, was obtained from an electron diffraction pattern using an imaging plate. The present amorphous diamond was essentially amorphous materia l based on diffractometry. Analysis of the local structure around an a tom revealed that the amorphous material was distinguishable not only from sp(2)-based amorphous material but also from some tetrahedrally c oordinated amorphous carbon and other amorphous semiconductors previou sly reported. The carbon atoms in the present material were tetrahedra lly coordinated, forming regular tetrahedra that additionally were arr anged in the same manner as those of crystalline diamond within a unit -cell size region. The implications of producing the new form of amorp hous diamond from C-60 fullerene also are discussed in the present pap er.