A dicing blade includes: a first blade portion and a second blade portion at least partially surrounding the first blade portion, wherein the first blade portion includes: a first bonding layer; first diamond particles disposed in the first bonding layer and having a first density in the first bonding layer; and first metal particles disposed in the first bonding layer, and wherein the second blade portion includes: a second bonding layer at least partially surrounding the first bonding layer; and second diamond particles disposed in the second bonding layer and having a second density in the second bonding layer, wherein the second density is higher than the first density.

A dicing blade includes: a first blade portion and a second blade portion at least partially surrounding the first blade portion, wherein the first blade portion includes: a first bonding layer; first diamond particles disposed in the first bonding layer and having a first density in the first bonding layer; and first metal particles disposed in the first bonding layer, and wherein the second blade portion includes: a second bonding layer at least partially surrounding the first bonding layer; and second diamond particles disposed in the second bonding layer and having a second density in the second bonding layer, wherein the second density is higher than the first density.

One variation of a diamond composition includes carbon: including a first amount of carbon-13 isotopes and a second amount of carbon-12 isotopes; and sourced from a hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and formed via methanation of a carbon dioxide mixture. The carbon dioxide mixture: sourced from a sample of air including carbon dioxide and impurities; conveyed through a separation unit configured to remove impurities; including carbon dioxide and impurities; conveyed through a distillation column configured to regulate amounts of carbon-13 isotopes and carbon-12 isotopes; and exhibiting a target ratio of carbon-13 isotopes to carbon-12 isotopes at an outlet of the distillation column. The diamond composition: formed via chemical vapor deposition; and exhibiting an isotopic signature defining a final ratio of the first amount of carbon-13 isotopes to the second amount of carbon-12 isotopes within a first target range corresponding to the target ratio exhibited by the carbon dioxide mixture.

A disaggregation method for NDs (nanodiamonds) comprising: sonicating NDs dispersed in water; and sedimenting non-disaggregated NDs by centrifugation. Optionally, the method includes sonicating the disaggregated NDs with CAN [(NH.sub.4).sub.2Ce(NO.sub.3).sub.6] to produce CAN modified NDs and washing to remove excess CAN. Populations of disaggregated NDs are also disclosed. In some embodiments the populations are provided as an aqueous suspension.

The diamond particle according to the present invention has an ionic conductivity Di represented by the following expression of 0.8 mS/m or lower:
Di=Ds−Dw
wherein Ds represents an ionic conductivity of an aqueous solution obtained by dissolving-out in a pressure cooker test carried out according to IEC68-2-66; and Dw represents an ionic conductivity of distilled water.

Systems and methods of providing X-ray optics are described. The optics are formed from CVD thin film diamond. The optics lave three sections that include a tip on which X-rays impinge, a base, and an intermediate section connecting the base and the tip. The intermediate section tapers from the base to the tip. The base has a substantially larger thickness than the tip. The base is disposed within a holder that securely retains the optics to provide vibration control, while the tip is thin enough to provide thermal management and reduce crystal strain.

Systems and methods of providing X-ray optics are described. The optics are formed from CVD thin film diamond. The optics lave three sections that include a tip on which X-rays impinge, a base, and an intermediate section connecting the base and the tip. The intermediate section tapers from the base to the tip. The base has a substantially larger thickness than the tip. The base is disposed within a holder that securely retains the optics to provide vibration control, while the tip is thin enough to provide thermal management and reduce crystal strain.

One variation of a method includes: ingesting an air sample captured during an air capture period at a target location for collection of a first mixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impurities; conveying the first mixture through a liquefaction unit to generate a second mixture including carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than the first concentration of impurities; in a methanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbon mixture comprising a third concentration of impurities comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture through a separation unit configured to remove impurities from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a second hydrocarbon a fourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration of impurities; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds.

One variation of a method includes: ingesting an air sample captured during an air capture period at a target location for collection of a first mixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impurities; conveying the first mixture through a liquefaction unit to generate a second mixture including carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than the first concentration of impurities; in a methanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbon mixture comprising a third concentration of impurities comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture through a separation unit configured to remove impurities from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a second hydrocarbon a fourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration of impurities; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds.

An object of the present invention is to provide composite particles capable of suppressing oxidation over time of a Si—C composite material. Composite particles (B) of the present invention contains composite particles (A) containing carbon and silicon; and amorphous layers coating surfaces thereof, where the composite particles (B) have I.sub.Si/I.sub.G of 0.10 or more and 0.65 or less, and have R value (I.sub.D/I.sub.G) of 1.00 or more and 1.30 or less, when a peak due to silicon is present at 450 to 495 cm.sup.−1, an intensity of the peak is defined as I.sub.Si, an intensity of a G band (peak intensity in the vicinity of 1600 cm.sup.−1) is defined as I.sub.G, and an intensity of a D band (peak intensity in the vicinity of 1360 cm.sup.−1) is defined as I.sub.D in a Raman spectrum, and where the composite particles (B) have a full width at half maximum of a peak of a 111 plane of Si of 3.0 deg. or more using a Cu-Kα ray in an XRD pattern.