Synthesis and characterization of smooth ultrananocrystalline diamond films via low pressure bias-enhanced nucleation and growth

  • Y. C. Chen
  • , X. Y. Zhong
  • , A. R. Konicek
  • , D. S. Grierson
  • , N. H. Tai
  • , I. N. Lin
  • , B. Kabius
  • , J. M. Hiller
  • , A. V. Sumant
  • , R. W. Carpick
  • , O. Auciello

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

This letter describes the fundamental process underlying the synthesis of ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films, using a new low-pressure, heat-assisted bias-enhanced nucleation (BEN)/bias enhanced growth (BEG) technique, involving H2 C H4 gas chemistry. This growth process yields UNCD films similar to those produced by the Ar-rich/ C H4 chemistries, with pure diamond nanograins (3-5 nm), but smoother surfaces (∼6 nm rms) and higher growth rate (∼1 μmh). Synchrotron-based x-Ray absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy studies on the BEN-BEG UNCD films provided information critical to understanding the nucleation and growth mechanisms, and growth condition-nanostructure-property relationships.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number133113
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume92
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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