Ultraviolet Raman analysis of the formation of diamond from C60

The ultraviolet (257 nm) Raman spectrum of C60 compressed to 30 GPa in a Mao–Bell diamond anvil cell with no pressure transmitting medium at ambient temperature indicates the formation of diamond after release of pressure. Previously, more extreme non-hydrostatic compression was reported to be required to form diamond from C60. These results provide confirmation of the transformation of C60 to diamond upon non-hydrostatic compression at room temperature and illustrate the utility of UV Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of carbon phases containing both sp2 and sp3 bonding.