Unique rounded particles, average diameter 4

Size and Shape (including Surface Area)

Size

Uniquely small particles
Average diameter is 4 - 5 nanometers. Most particles are between 2 - 8 nanometers. (1 nanometer = 10 Angstroms.)

Typical size distribution
Graph, below, shows data from small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. ( X-rays measure the diamond center zone, excluding the relatively thin outer zones - see diagram of zones).

plot of ultradiamond particle size distribution

TEM image

Transmission Electron Microscope image
of a typical group of smaller particles.

tem of ultradiamond particles

Click here for larger TEM image

Straight lines within particles are images produced by interaction between the crystalline structure and electrons from the Transmission Electron Microscope. These lines, called lattice fringes, are not features on the surface of the particles.
(Contrast of image enhanced digitally, for easier viewing of particles.)

Shape

Rounded shape
Evidence for the rounded shape of ultradiamond particles has been reported by researchers (for example in Applied Surface Science, 78 (1994) pages 309-313)

Surface Area

Large surface area
Surface area is no less than 270 - 380 square meters per gram.

Product	Surface Area, square meters per gram
	(minimum values)
ultradiamond50	380
ultradiamond90	270

Measurements were done by the BET method.

Comparison to
other diamond

Size and shape
Mypolex, a relatively small synthetic diamond, is large and "blocky" compared to ultradiamond90 and ultradiamond50.