Various techniques are provided for prevent excessive accumulation of moisture onto a surface of an optical component of an imaging device. In one example, a method includes providing a bulk layer of an optical component of a thermal imaging system, wherein the bulk layer is configured to pass thermal radiation. The method further includes depositing a diamond like coating (DLC) to provide an external surface of the optical component, wherein the DLC exhibits a resistance to abrasion. The method further includes forming a plurality of nanostructures in the optical component, wherein the nanostructures exhibit a superhydrophobic property to prevent excessive moisture accumulation on the external surface of the optical component. Additional methods and systems are also provided.

Various techniques are provided for prevent excessive accumulation of moisture onto a surface of an optical component of an imaging device. In one example, a method includes providing a bulk layer of an optical component of a thermal imaging system, wherein the bulk layer is configured to pass thermal radiation. The method further includes depositing a diamond like coating (DLC) to provide an external surface of the optical component, wherein the DLC exhibits a resistance to abrasion. The method further includes forming a plurality of nanostructures in the optical component, wherein the nanostructures exhibit a superhydrophobic property to prevent excessive moisture accumulation on the external surface of the optical component. Additional methods and systems are also provided.

In an embodiment, a system includes a three-dimensional (3D) printer, a neutral feedstock, a p-doped feedstock, an n-doped feedstock, and a laser. The 3D printer includes a platen and an enclosure. The platen includes an inert metal. The enclosure includes an inert atmosphere. The neutral feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The neutral feedstock includes a halogenated solution and a nanoparticle having a negative electron affinity. The p-doped feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The p-doped feedstock includes a boronated compound introduced to the neutral feedstock. The n-doped feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The n-doped feedstock includes a phosphorous compound introduced to the neutral feedstock. The laser is configured to induce the nanoparticle to emit solvated electrons into the halogenated solution to form, by reduction, layers of a ceramic comprising a neutral layer, a p-doped layer, and an n-doped layer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Provided is a method for synthesizing carbon agglomerates containing metastable carbyne/carbynoid chains; a method for synthesizing carbon or carbon compound allotropes from the agglomerates containing metastable carbyne/carbynoid chains; and the uses of the methods. The method for synthesizing carbon agglomerates containing metastable carbyne/carbynoid chains includes the following steps: a) forming carbon vapor precursors, containing carbine/carbynoid chains, by decomposing a carbon gas selected from among CH.sub.4, C.sub.2H.sub.2, C.sub.2H.sub.4, gaseous toluene, and benzene in the form of vapors at a temperature T such that 1 500° C.<T≦3 000° C.; and b) condensing the carbon vapor precursors, obtained in Step a), on the surface of a substrate, the temperature Ts of which is less than the temperature T. The invention is particularly of use in the field of electronics.

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.

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.