Optical characterization of nanocarbon phases in detonation soot and shocked graphite

Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence and FTIR absorption were used to characterize the carbon phases in detonation soot and shocked graphite samples. Detonation synthesized diamond and shock synthesized diamond, which were separated from the detonation soot and shocked graphite respectively, were also collected for further examination. The detonation soot was obtained under different charge conditions and environmental conditions including gas and water, and the diamond was separated from the detonation soot by different purification methods. Size-induced transformation in the Raman and photoluminescence spectra was observed. Sp2 carbon is a dominant defect in both detonation synthesized diamond and shock synthesized diamond. The two dynamically synthesized diamonds have similar structure and surface properties. The properties of detonation soot and detonation synthesized diamond are influenced by charge conditions and environmental conditions. The diamond and graphite crystallites in detonation soot and shocked graphite are both in nanometer sizes. The diamond and graphite crystallites in detonation soot have a smaller size and are more disordered than those in shocked graphite.