High-Pressure High-Temperature Synthesis of Novel Binary and Ternary Superhard Phases in the B-C-N System

• Applicant: Professor Ralf Riedel
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2009 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 140332785

The overall scientific goals of the project are: (i) to synthesize new binary and ternary superhard diamond-like phases in the B–C–N system at high pressures and high temperatures, and (ii) to study their physico-chemical, structural, elastic and bonding properties, equations of state and thermal stability. In the proposed research, the formation of novel binary and ternary superhard diamond-like phases in the B–C–N system will be systematically examined over wide pressure and temperature ranges using laser heated diamond anvil cell (up to 50 GPa and 3000 K), largevolume high-pressure apparatus (up to 25 GPa and 2300 K) and X-ray diffraction with in-house and synchrotron radiation. The structure and properties of quenched samples will be analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction, Raman- and IR- spectroscopy, scanning- and transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss- and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermal analysis, nanoindentation and hardness measurements.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1236: Synthesis, "In Situ" Characterisation and Quantum Mechanical Modelling of Earth Materials, Oxides, Carbides and Nitrides at Extremely High Pressures and Temperatures