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Lonsdaleite is faulted and twinned cubic diamond and does not exist as a discrete material

Author

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  • Péter Németh

    (Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
    Arizona State University)

  • Laurence A. J. Garvie

    (Center for Meteorite Studies, Arizona State University
    School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University)

  • Toshihiro Aoki

    (LeRoy Eyring Center for Solid State Science, Arizona State University)

  • Natalia Dubrovinskaia

    (Material Physics and Technology at Extreme Conditions, Laboratory of Crystallography, University of Bayreuth)

  • Leonid Dubrovinsky

    (Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

  • Peter R. Buseck

    (Arizona State University
    School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University)

Abstract

Lonsdaleite, also called hexagonal diamond, has been widely used as a marker of asteroidal impacts. It is thought to play a central role during the graphite-to-diamond transformation, and calculations suggest that it possesses mechanical properties superior to diamond. However, despite extensive efforts, lonsdaleite has never been produced or described as a separate, pure material. Here we show that defects in cubic diamond provide an explanation for the characteristic d-spacings and reflections reported for lonsdaleite. Ultrahigh-resolution electron microscope images demonstrate that samples displaying features attributed to lonsdaleite consist of cubic diamond dominated by extensive {113} twins and {111} stacking faults. These defects give rise to nanometre-scale structural complexity. Our findings question the existence of lonsdaleite and point to the need for re-evaluating the interpretations of many lonsdaleite-related fundamental and applied studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Péter Németh & Laurence A. J. Garvie & Toshihiro Aoki & Natalia Dubrovinskaia & Leonid Dubrovinsky & Peter R. Buseck, 2014. "Lonsdaleite is faulted and twinned cubic diamond and does not exist as a discrete material," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-5, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6447
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6447
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