Byshkin M. Percolation and phase transformations in amorphous carbon

In this thesis the amorphous carbon is investigated by means of computer simulation. The model of formation of nanostructured materials is proposed, which describes materials formed by cluster deposition. A new method to study the percolation properties of disordered structures is developed. The carbon is investigated in liquid and amorphous forms. For the first time it is found that the stability of diamond nanocrystals embedded in supercooled carbon liquid correlates with the existence of percolation cluster of atoms. The pressure dependences of thermodynamic properties show peculiarities. The correlation of these peculiarities with the percolation properties of structures of atoms in amorphous carbon is considered. These results prove that the phase transition exists in amorphous carbon. Key words: diamond-like amorphous carbon, polyamorphous phase transformations, percolation, transport properties, nanostructures.