On the history of the discovery of nanodiamond synthesis

The history of the discovery of nanodiamond synthesis, the investigation of nanodiamond properties, and the application and organization of their production in the second half of the 20th century is expounded. It is noted that this history is unique, since nanodiamond synthesis was discovered in the USSR three times over 19 years: first by K.V. Volkov, V.V. Danilenko, and V.I. Elin at the VNIITF (Snezhinsk) in 1963 and then, in 1982, by A.M. Staver and A.I. Lyamkin at the Institute of Hydrodynamics, Siberian Division, Academy of Sciences of the USSR (Novosibirsk), and by G.I. Savvakin at the Institute of Problems of Materials Science, Academy of Sciences of the UkSSR (Kiev). All of these researchers discovered nanodiamond synthesis accidentally while studying diamond synthesis by shock compression of nondiamond carbon modifications in blast chambers. The priority of work by Russian scientists in this field is demonstrated. (C) 2004 MAIK "Nauka / Interperiodica".