Molecular Simulations Show Graphite ‘Hijacks’ Diamond Formation Through Unexpected Crystallization Pathways (IMAGE)

University of California - Davis

Molecular Simulations Show Graphite ‘Hijacks’ Diamond Formation Through Unexpected Crystallization Pathways

Caption

Molten carbon can crystallize into diamond or graphite, but it has been difficult to study this process. New simulations show that graphite can sometimes "hijack" the pathway that would lead to diamond. Image shows simulations of the nucleation pathways of graphite (top row) and diamond (bottom row) from direct molecular dynamics simulations at pressures of 15 and 15.5 GPa and a temperature of 3650 K.

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Davide Donadio/UC Davis

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