PROPERTIES OF DIAMOND AND DIAMOND-LIKE CLUSTERS IN NANOMETRIC DIMENSIONS

Material properties for small clusters of nanometric dimensions were i nvestigated. Calculations were carried out for spherical diamond and d iamond-like particles containing over 1000 carbon atoms. Variations in the average cohesive energy, the excess surface energy and in the sti ffness value were investigated as a function of the cluster size. Furt hermore, energetic stabilities for spherical 3D clusters of carbon (in diamond-like atomic arrangements) were analyzed and compared with sta bilities of other carbon clusters with lower dimensionalities.