Cathodic plasma electrolysis was conducted in 1-propanol solutions and submicron diamond carbon was synthesized by the plasma electrochemical reactions under atmospheric pressure. The structure of the carbon particles was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of applied potential difference and treatment time on the structure of the prepared carbon products of PE processes were studied. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.