Micro-Raman study of nanodiamonds from the Allende meteorite

We have studied the Raman spectroscopic signatures of nanodiamonds from the Allende meteorite in which some portions must be of presolar origin as indicated by the isotopic compositions of various trace elements. The spectra of the meteoritic nanodiamond show a narrow peak at 1326 cm‑1 and a broad band at 1590 cm‑1. Compared to the intensities of these peaks, the background fluorescence is relatively high. A significant frequency shift from 1332 to 1326 cm‑1, peak broadening, and appearance of a new peak at 1590 cm‑1 might be due to shock effects during formation of the diamond grains. Such changes may have several origins: an increase in bond length, a change in the electron density function or charge transfer, or a combination of these factors. However, Raman spectroscopy alone does not allow distinguishing between a shock origin of the nanodiamonds and formation by a CVD process as is favored by most workers

Microstructures Manufactured in Diamond by Use of Laser Micromachining.

Different microstructures were created on the surface of a polycrystalline diamond plate (obtained by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition-MW PECVD process) by use of a nanosecond pulsed DPSS (diode pumped solid state) laser with a 355 nm wavelength and a galvanometer scanning system. Different average powers (5 to 11 W), scanning speeds (50 to 400 mm/s) and scan line spacings ("hatch spacing") (5 to 20 µm) were applied. The microstructures were then examined using scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Microstructures exhibiting excellent geometry were obtained. The precise geometries of the microstructures, exhibiting good perpendicularity, deep channels and smooth surfaces show that the laser microprocessing can be applied in manufacturing diamond microfluidic devices. Raman spectra show small differences depending on the process parameters used. In some cases, the diamond band (at 1332 cm-1) after laser modification of material is only slightly wider and shifted, but with no additional peaks, indicating that the diamond is almost not changed after laser interaction. Some parameters did show that the modification of material had occurred and additional peaks in Raman spectra (typical for low-quality chemical vapor deposition CVD diamond) appeared, indicating the growing disorder of material or manufacturing of the new carbon phase

Raman spectroscopy investigations of extraterrestrial minerals of certain meteorites

Ordinary chondrites DaG 610 and NWA 869, as well as graphite nodules from Canyon Diablo iron meteorites were investigated by confocal Raman microspectroscopy in order to identify extraterrestrial minerals. Olivines, orthopyroxenes (enstatite, bronzite and hyperstene), clinopyroxenes (pigeonite), plagioclase, troilite and various carbon phases, mainly graphite and diamond have been identified and characterized

Meteorite Odessa investigations with use of modern techniques of materials engineering

Odessa iron meteorite was investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The research has shown the existence of minerals such as schreibersite, troilite, taenite, kamacite, cohenite, graphite and diamond in the examined sample. Raman spectroscopy allowed to identify different allotropic forms of carbon, which is diamond and graphite with different levels of order