Performance of a synthetic diamond backing-plate for the diamond-anvil cell at ultrahigh pressures

Synthetic diamond has been successfully used as a backing-plate in the diamond-anvil cell up to 223 GPa. Use of diamond for the backing-plate has a great advantage for powder x-ray diffraction experiments at ultrahigh pressures, for it makes it possible to measure full Debye–Scherrer rings to a maximum scattering angle of 34°. The mechanical strength of the diamond backing-plate should contribute to the extension of the current pressure limit of the diamond-anvil cell. Problems and future improvements of the design are discussed.