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At least 109 records · Page 6

Thermal diffusivity of diamond films using a laser pulse technique

Polycrystalline diamond films were deposited using a microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process. A laser pulse technique was developed to measure the thermal diffusivity of diamond films deposited on a silicon substrate. The effective thermal diffusivity of a diamond film on silicon was measured by observing the phase and amplitude of the cyclic thermal waves generated by laser pulses. An analytical model is presented to calculate the effective in-plane (face-parallel) diffusivity of a two-layer system. The model is used to reduce the effective thermal diffusivity of the diamonds/silicon sample to a value for the thermal diffusivity and conductivity of the diamond film. The average effective diffusivity values are 1.47 + or - 0.03 and 1.83 + or - 0.10 yielding thermal diffusivity values of 7.46 + or - 0.90 and 7.33 + or - 0.70 sq cm/s respectively, for the two samples; the calculated thermal con ductivity values are 13.50 and 13.28 W/cmK, which are better than that of type 1a natural diamond. The phase and amplitude measurements give similar results.

Albin, Sacharia↗

Thermal Conductivity Of Natural Type IIa Diamond

Report describes application of flash diffusivity method to measure thermal conductivity of 8.04 x 8.84 x 2.35-mm specimen of natural, white, type-IIa diamond at temperatures between 500 and 1,250 K. Provides baseline for comparison to isotopically pure (12C) diamond. Results used as reference against which diamond films produced by chemical-vapor deposition at low pressures can be compared. High thermal conductivity of diamond exploited for wide variety of applications, and present results also used to estimate heat-conduction performances of diamond films in high-temperature applications.

Vandersande, Jan↗

Surface morphologies and photoluminescence of diamond films deposited in a hot filament reactor

A diamond film made of (100)-oriented diamond crystallites has relatively flat surfaces in parallel with the silicon surface. This is desirable because it provides a smoother surface of the diamond film. The difficulty in retaining the (100)-oriented diamond crystallites is strongly influenced by the growth temperature. This paper reports the results from a study on the surface morphologies of diamond films deposited in a hot filament reactor at reduced substrate temperature compared to that deposited at higher temperature.

Srivinyunon, T.↗

Wear-Resistant, Self-Lubricating Surfaces of Diamond Coatings

In humid air and dry nitrogen, as-deposited, fine-grain diamond films and polished, coarse-grain diamond films have low steady-state coefficients of friction (less than 0.1) and low wear rates (less than or equal to 10(exp -6) mm(exp 3)/N-m). In an ultrahigh vacuum (10(exp -7) Pa), however, they have high steady-state coefficients of friction (greater than 0.6) and high wear rates (greater than or equal to 10(exp -4) mm(exp 3)/N-m). Therefore, the use of as-deposited, fine-grain and polished, coarse-grain diamond films as wear-resistant, self-lubricating coatings must be limited to normal air or gaseous environments such as dry nitrogen. On the other hand, carbon-ion-implanted, fine-grain diamond films and nitrogen-ion-implanted, coarse-grain diamond films have low steady-state coefficients of friction (less than 0.1) and low wear rates (less than or equal to 10(exp -6) mm(exp 3)/N-m) in all three environments. These films can be effectively used as wear-resistant, self-lubricating coatings in an ultrahigh vacuum as well as in normal air and dry nitrogen.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

Fabrication of an electron multiplier utilizing diamond films

High secondary electron yields (sigma=14-27) from polycrystalline diamond films on Mo substrates have been reported previously. We observed that continuous exposure to an electron beam degraded the secondary yield in vacuum as a function of fluence owing to a loss of surface hydrogen. However, the hydrogen partial pressure could be adjusted such that the high secondary yield remained stable during beam exposure. We have constructed a prototype electron multiplier using these diamond films for use in ultrahigh vacuum. A gain of 0.9 times 10(exp 5) has been measured in a d.c. mode. Palladium, titanium and aluminum nitride have been studied for possible dynode substrate materials which might eliminate the need for hydrogen during operation. Total secondary yields as high as 50 were measured from diamond on palladium and sigma was stable at 25 during heating at 700 K in vacuum. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that variations in sigma from diamond films on Pd were due to differing concentrations of non-diamond carbon.

Mearini, G. T.↗

Below-Band-Gap Laser Ablation Of Diamond For TEM

Thin, electron-transparent layers of diamond for examination in transmission electron microscope (TEM) fabricated from thicker diamond substrates by using laser beam to ablate surface of substrate. Involves use of photon energy below band gap. Growing interest in use of diamond as bulk substrate and as coating material in variety of applications has given rise to increasing need for TEM for characterization of diamond-based materials. Below-band-gap laser ablation method helps to satisfy this need. Also applied in general to cutting and etching of diamonds.

George, Thomas↗

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies of Diamond Films and Optoelectronic Materials

We present a summary of the research, citations of publications resulting from the research and abstracts of such publications. We have made no inventions in the performance of the work in this project. The main goals of the project were to set up a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) diamond growth system attached to an UltraHigh Vacuum (UHV) atomic resolution Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) system and carry out experiments aimed at studying the properties and growth of diamond films using atomic resolution UHV STM. We successfully achieved these goals. We observed, for the first time, the atomic structure of the surface of CVD grown epitaxial diamond (100) films using UHV STM. We studied the effects of atomic hydrogen on the CVD diamond growth process. We studied the electronic properties of the diamond (100) (2x1) surface, and the effect of alkali metal adsorbates such as Cs on the work function of this surface using UHV STM spectroscopy techniques. We also studied, using STM, new electronic materials such as carbon nanotubes and gold nanostructures. This work resulted in four publications in refereed scientific journals and five publications in refereed conference proceedings.

Perez, Jose M.↗

Lubrication by Diamond and Diamondlike Carbon Coatings

Regardless of environment (ultrahigh vacuum, humid air, dry nitrogen, or water), ion-beam-deposited diamondlike carbon (DLC) and nitrogen-ion-implanted, chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) diamond films had low steady-state coefficients of friction (less than 0.1) and low wear rates (less than or equal to 10(exp -6)cu mm/N(dot)m). These films can be used as effective wear-resistant, self-lubricating coatings regardless of environment. On the other hand, as-deposited, fine-grain CVD diamond films; polished, coarse-grain CVD diamond films; and polished and then fluorinated, coarse-grain CVD diamond films can be used as effective wear-resistant, self-lubricating coatings in humid air, in dry nitrogen, and in water, but they had a high coefficient of friction and a high wear rate in ultrahigh vacuum. The polished, coarse-grain CVD diamond film revealed an extremely low wear rate, far less than 10(exp 10) cu mm/N(dot)m, in water.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

Auger Spectroscopy of Hydrogenated Diamond Surfaces

An energy shift and a change of the line shape of the carbon core-valence-valence Auger spectra are observed for diamond surfaces after their exposure to an electron beam, or annealing at temperatures higher then 950 C. The effect is studied for both natural diamond crystals and chemical-vapor-deposited diamond films. A theoretical model is proposed for Auger spectra of hydrogenated diamond surfaces. The observed changes of the carbon Auger line shape are shown to be related to the redistribution of the valence-band local density of states caused by the hydrogen desorption from the surface. One-electron calculation of Auger spectra of diamond surfaces with various hydrogen coverages are presented. They are based on self-consistent wave functions and matrix elements calculated in the framework of the local-density approximation and the self-consistent linear muffin-tin orbital method with static core-hole effects taken into account. The major features of experimental spectra are explained.

Krainsky, I. L.↗

Chemical-Vapor-Deposited Diamond Film

This chapter describes the nature of clean and contaminated diamond surfaces, Chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) diamond film deposition technology, analytical techniques and the results of research on CVD diamond films, and the general properties of CVD diamond films. Further, it describes the friction and wear properties of CVD diamond films in the atmosphere, in a controlled nitrogen environment, and in an ultra-high-vacuum environment.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

Electron Microscopy of Natural and Epitaxial Diamond

Semiconducting diamond films have the potential for use as a material in which to build active electronic devices capable of operating at high temperatures or in high radiation environments. Ultimately, it is preferable to use low-defect-density single crystal diamond for device fabrication. We have previously investigated polycrystalline diamond films with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and homoepitaxial films with SEM-based techniques. This contribution describes some of our most recent observations of the microstructure of natural diamond single crystals and homoepitaxial diamond thin films using TEM.

Posthill, J. B.↗

Single-Mode WGM Resonators Fabricated by Diamond Turning

A diamond turning process has made possible a significant advance in the art of whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) optical resonators. By use of this process, it is possible to fashion crystalline materials into WGM resonators that have ultrahigh resonance quality factors (high Q values), are compact (ranging in size from millimeters down to tens of microns), and support single electromagnetic modes. This development combines and extends the developments reported in "Few- Mode Whispering-Gallery-Mode Resonators" (NPO-41256), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 30, No. 1 (January 2006), page 16a and "Fabrication of Submillimeter Axisymmetric Optical Components" (NPO-42056), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 31, No. 5 (May 2007), page 10a. To recapitulate from the first cited prior article: A WGM resonator of this special type consists of a rod, made of a suitable transparent material, from which protrudes a thin circumferential belt of the same material. The belt is integral with the rest of the rod and acts as a circumferential waveguide. If the depth and width of the belt are made appropriately small, then the belt acts as though it were the core of a single-mode optical fiber: the belt and the rod material adjacent to it support a single, circumferentially propagating mode or family of modes. To recapitulate from the second cited prior article: A major step in the fabrication of a WGM resonator of this special type is diamond turning or computer numerically controlled machining of a rod of a suitable transparent crystalline material on an ultrahigh-precision lathe. During the rotation of a spindle in which the rod is mounted, a diamond tool is used to cut the rod. A computer program is used to control stepping motors that move the diamond tool, thereby controlling the shape cut by the tool. Because the shape can be controlled via software, it is possible to choose a shape designed to optimize a resonator spectrum, including, if desired, to limit the resonator to supporting a single mode. After diamond turning, a resonator can be polished to increase its Q. By virtue of its largely automated, computer-controlled nature, the process is suitable for mass production of nominally identical single-mode WGM resonators. In a demonstration of the capabilities afforded by this development, a number of WGM resonators of various designs were fabricated side by side on the surface of a single CaF2 rod (see figure).

Grudinin, Ivan↗

Phase Retrieval System for Assessing Diamond Turning and Optical Surface Defects

An optical design is presented for a measurement system used to assess the impact of surface errors originating from diamond turning artifacts. Diamond turning artifacts are common by-products of optical surface shaping using the diamond turning process (a diamond-tipped cutting tool used in a lathe configuration). Assessing and evaluating the errors imparted by diamond turning (including other surface errors attributed to optical manufacturing techniques) can be problematic and generally requires the use of an optical interferometer. Commercial interferometers can be expensive when compared to the simple optical setup developed here, which is used in combination with an image-based sensing technique (phase retrieval). Phase retrieval is a general term used in optics to describe the estimation of optical imperfections or aberrations. This turnkey system uses only image-based data and has minimal hardware requirements. The system is straightforward to set up, easy to align, and can provide nanometer accuracy on the measurement of optical surface defects.

Dean, Bruce↗

Formation of a Boron-Oxide Termination for the (100) Diamond Surface

A boron-oxide termination of the diamond (100) surface has been formed by depositing molecular boron oxide B 2 O 3 onto the hydrogen-terminated (100) diamond surface under ultrahigh vacuum conditions and annealing to 950 °C. The resulting termination is highly oriented and chemically homogeneous, although further optimization is required to increase the surface coverage beyond the 0.4 monolayer coverage achieved here. This work demonstrates the possibility of using molecular deposition under ultrahigh vacuum conditions for complex surface engineering of the diamond surface, and may be a first step in an alternative approach to fabricating boron doped delta layers in diamond.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Charge collection efficiency of diamond and silicon sensors irradiated with alpha particles

To evaluate the viability of using semiconductors as sensor materials in a detector for the Associated Particle Imaging technique, the radiation hardness of silicon and diamond diodes to alpha particles has been assessed. Here, the detector lifetimes for both silicon and diamond sensors were measured under the prolonged exposure to alpha particles emitted by an 241 Am source. The silicon detector was exposed to alpha radiation for approximately two months, reaching an accumulated fluence of ~ 1.5 x 10 12 α cm –2 . Additionally, by using a high purity single-crystal diamond with coplanar electrodes operating with full charge collection, the diamond detector response was measured over approximately ten months reaching an accumulated fluence of over 6 x 10 12 α cm –2 cm.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Purcell-Enhanced Emissions from Diamond Color Centers in Slow Light Photonic Crystal Waveguides

Diamond color centers are promising candidates for optically addressable quantum memories, which motivates the development of efficient photonic interfaces, often using nanophotonic cavities with narrow spectral line widths and small mode volumes. However, they require perfect spectral and spatial overlap between the cavity mode and quantum emitter, which is challenging. This is especially true for solid-state quantum emitters that are often randomly positioned and suffer from inhomogeneous broadening. Another approach to enhance light-matter interaction across large optical bandwidths and areas is using slow light waveguides. Here, in this study, we demonstrate diamond slow light photonic crystal (PhC) waveguides optically coupled to embedded silicon-vacancy (SiV) color centers. We use the recently developed thin-film diamond approach to fabricate fully suspended two-dimensional PhC waveguides. We demonstrate waveguide modes with high group indices up to 70 and observe Purcell-enhanced emissions of the SiVs. Our approach represents a practical diamond platform for robust spin-photon interfaces with color centers.

2D photonic crystal waveguide↗

Large Diffraction-Grade Single Crystal Diamond for Applications at New Generation Synchrotron and FEL X-Ray Sources

As a result of increasing performance of synchrotron and free-electron laser x-ray sources for high-flux applications, a new generation of optics is needed that can support the high energy densities utilized. To achieve this, the Department of Energy (DOW) has sought a commercially available, US-sourced supply of this material. Through a collaborative effort led by WD Advanced Materials (WD AM), in coordination with Euclid Beamlabs and Applied Diamond, Inc., and supported by Argonne National Laboratory, an effort has been made to begin the creation of such a diamond optic supply. Key material and optic parameters were identified, as well as characterization methods. A process of diamond synthesis that satisfies both extrinsic and intrinsic needs of the optics was formulated and demonstrated, and necessary steps to achieve high-quality epitaxy were evaluated and tested. Results of the first steps of this program are provided herein, as well as recommendations for a follow-up effort to complete the program and establish the needed supply of diamond optics for DOE x-ray applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Focused ion beam milling of polycrystalline diamond

Focused ion beam (FIB) technology has a large potential for precise milling of ultrahard materials such as diamond. However, studies of the sputtering of diamond with ion species and energies relevant to the FIB technology are scarce. Here, we report a systematic study of the sputtering of polycrystalline diamond surfaces with ion beams in a wide range of ion energies (2 - 30 keV), incident beam angles (0 - 80°), and ion masses (N, O, Ar, and Xe). Results show that the sputter yield is relatively insensitive to ion energy but strongly depends on the ion species and incident beam angles. Bombardment with O ions results in sputter yields that are significantly larger than ballistic predictions due to chemical etching effects. Characteristic surface ripples develop for oblique beam incidence angle irradiation. The critical beam tilt angle for the onset of ripple formation and the wavelength of the ripples depend on ion species and energies. Ripples appear to suppress ion reflection at high beam tilt angles and, hence, a peak in the sputter yield angular dependence. In conclusion, these results have direct implications for the development of process parameter maps for high-precision ion-beam milling of diamond.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗