A novel allotrope of carbon with P2/m symmetry was identified during an ab-initio min.-hopping structural search which we call M10-carbon. This structure is predicted to be more stable than graphite at pressures above 14.4 GPa and consists purely of sp3 bonds. It has a high bulk modulus and is almost as hard as diamond. A comparison of the simulated X-ray diffraction pattern shows a good agreement with exptl. results from cold compressed graphite.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-40639-4