Identification of the diamond-like B–C phase by confocal Raman spectroscopy

The new diamond-like B–C phase was obtained from the graphite-like BC phase in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell at high temperature 2230 ± 140 K and high pressure 45 GPa. Raman spectra of the new phase measured at ambient conditions revealed a peak at 1315 cm−1, which was attributed to longitudinal-optical (LO) mode. The X–Y Raman mapping was used to investigate spatial distribution of the diamond-like phases and was shown to be a powerful tool in studying the sp2-to-sp3 phase transformations occurring in the diamond cell under high temperature and high pressure.