Abstract: A method for growing diamond crystals or films by diffusing carbon through one side of a carbon diffusable substrate, such as metal or alloy, and outdiffusing the carbon on opposite side of the substrate is disclosed. The requirements for the metal or the alloy medium are: (1) low solubility of carbon in the medium so that all carbon will not be trapped in the medium; (2) no stable compound is formed between carbon and the medium in the operating temperature region; (3) a proximity to the lattice constant of diamond; and (4) an adequate diffusion rate at the operating temperature to grow the diamond efficiently.

Abstract: A method for producing solid ribbons is disclosed. A thin, flat "seed" is lowered into contact with and wetted by a liquid. When the seed is subsequently withdrawn from the liquid, the resulting liquid column that forms the "ribbon" is shaped by a plurality of gas jet streams directed at the base of the ribbon. The freezing interface is located above the average level of the liquid surface. The temperature and/or pressure and the number of jets can be varied to produce different ribbon configurations.