Computational discovery of a new rhombohedral diamond phase

We identify by first-principles calculations a new diamond phase in R3̄c (D3d⁶) symmetry, which has a 16-atom rhombohedral primitive cell, thus termed R16 carbon. This rhombohedral diamond comprises a characteristic all-sp³ six-membered-ring bonding network, and it is energetically more stable than previously identified diamondlike six-membered-ring bonded BC8 and BC12 carbon phases. A phonon mode analysis verifies the dynamic structural stability of R16 carbon, and electronic band calculations reveal that it is an insulator with a direct band gap of 4.45 eV. Simulated x-ray diffraction patterns provide an excellent match to recently reported distinct diffraction peaks found in milled fullerene soot, suggesting a viable experimental synthesis route. These findings pave the way for further exploration of this new diamond phase and its outstanding properties.