Effects of hydrogen termination of CVD diamond layers

Abstract

This paper is focused on studies of hydrogen terminated diamond films deposited from CH3OH and H2 gas mixture.The polycrystalline diamond layers of different ratios of sp2/sp3 carbon phases and levels of H-termination were synthesized by Hot Filament Chemical Vapour Deposition (HF CVD) method. As-grown CVD diamond layers were naturally hydrogen terminated which results from the nature of the CVD growth process.It is well known that hydrogen is responsible for the hydrophobic properties of the diamond surface and for its p-type conductivity, however, knowledge about the influence of hydrogen on optically active centers is very limited.The performed photoluminescence studies have shown that chemically bonded hydrogen can passivate non-radiative defects making the radiative transition more probable.In present work the properties of diamond surface has been studied using SEM (morphology), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies (structural quality, carbon phases composition, photoluminescence properties), FTIR spectroscopy (confirmation of H-termination), PL (photoluminescence), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle (wetting properties-hydrogen termination).