Nanophase films deposited from organic suspensions of ultradispersed diamond

Diamond films, which have a wide range of applications, are usually obtaine d from the gas phase activated by plasma, ion beam, or laser radiation. Amo ng the various methods used for preparation of films and coatings, the one characterized by the highest technological efficiency is the sol-gel method , which does not require complex equipment and provides high-quality coatin gs. By analogy with this method, a method of preparation of diamond films f rom organic suspensions of ultradispersed diamond (UDD) is proposed. Nanopa rticles of UDD are capable of forming stable organosuspensions with a low s urface tension. They readily form wetting films, where the structuring effe cts of the organic solvent and the orienting effect of the substrate are ma nifested. The choice of the proper dispersion medium ensures preservation o f the diamond coating during evaporation of the solvent and adsorptive anne aling in a furnace. Electron diffraction studies show that the films have a n amorphous structure, which is responsible for the appearance of new prope rties-flexibility and higher fracture resistance in comparison with polycry stalline diamond films.