microcrystals obtained by HPHT synthesis. Here we report on a simple two-step approach to
obtain as small as 1.1 nm HPHT nanodiamonds of excellent purity and crystallinity, which
are among the smallest artificially prepared nanodiamonds ever shown and characterized.
Moreover we provide experimental evidence of diamond stability down to 1 nm. Controlled
annealing at 450° C in air leads to efficient purification from the nondiamond carbon (shells …