The Role of Hydrogen in the Nucleation and Growth of Diamond Films

Dr. Dieter M.Gruen
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne,Illinois

October 18, 1996

Hydrogen has always been thought to be an essential ingredient for the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) growth of diamond films. Recent work at Argonne has shown that this is not necessarily the case. We have obtained both experimental and theoretical evidence for a mechanism involving carbon dimer as a growth species that does not require the intervention of atomic hydrogen in the diamond growth process. Transmission electron microscopy has been used to characterize the diamond films. This talk will elaborate on various aspects of the growth of phase pure diamond using the new Argonne process.