Diamond Nucleation from an Activated Vapor Phase

Nucleation of thermodynamically metastable diamond in both bulk of an activated vapor phase and at the surface of nondiamond materials is considered. We discuss the key factors leading to a reduction in the surface energy of the diamond phase being formed and in the activation energy associated with incorporation of new particles into diamond nuclei being formed. We remark on the importance of experimentally established patterns of diamond nucleation, in particular, for the synthesis of submicron-thick nanocrystalline diamond films.