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United States Patent 5,462,776
Gruen* Oct. 31, 1995

Conversion of fullerenes to diamonds

Inventors: Gruen; Dieter M. (1324 59th St., Downers Grove, IL 60515).
[*] Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to May 11, 2010 has been disclaimed.
Appl. No.: 271,044
Filed: Jul. 6, 1994

Related U.S. Application Data
Continuation of (including streamline cont.) Ser. No.35,419, Mar. 23, 1993, Pat. No. 5,370,855, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 995,456, Dec. 22, 1992, Pat. No. 5,328,676, and a continuation-in-part of Ser No. 797,590, Nov. 25, 1991, Pat. No. 5,209,916.
Intl. Cl.:B05D 3/06; C01B 31/06
U.S. Cl.:427/577; 427/533; 427/249; 427/122; 423/446; 117/929; 428/408
Field of Search:427/577, 533, 249, 122; 423/446; 156/DIG. 68; 428/408; 117/929

References Cited

U.S. Patent Documents
4,629,631Dec., 1986Dearnaley
5,132,105Jul., 1992Remo
5,209,916May, 1993Gruen
5,308,661May, 1994Feng et al. 427/535
5,328,676Jul., 1994Gruen 423/446
5,370,855Dec., 1994Gruen 423/446

Other References

Primary Examiner: King; Roy V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach

Abstract

A method of forming synthetic diamond or diamond-like films on a substrate surface. The method involves the steps of providing a vapor selected from the group of fullerene molecules or an inert gas/fullerene molecule mixture, providing energy to the fullerene molecules consisting of carbon-carbon bonds, the energized fullerene molecules breaking down to form fragments of fullerene molecules including C(2) molecules and depositing the energized fullerene molecules with C(2) fragments onto the substrate with farther fragmentation occurring and forming a thickness of diamond or diamond-like films on the substrate surface.

7 Claims, No Drawings


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