Diamond-graphite hybrids and the nature of amorphous carbon and diamond-like carbon

Abstract

The nature of amorphous carbon has been explored by molecular mechanics by examining the structures of species such as C₈₄H_x and C₁₅₀H_x, wherein the percentage of sp³ carbons is progressively increased in a graphitic network. The nature of diamond-like carbon has been similarly investigated by examining the structures of C₈₄H_x and C₁₀₂H_x where the percentage of sp² carbons is varied in an sp³ network. The dependence of the average coordination number as well as the sp³/sp² atom ratio on the atom fraction of hydrogen has been investigated in light of the random covalent network model.