Microstructural characterization of diamond films deposited on c-BN crystals

Nistor, L.; Buschmann, V.; Ralchenko, V.; Dinca, G.; Vlasov, I.; van Landuyt, J.; Fuess, H.

doi:10.1016/S0925-9635(99)00246-0

Title

Microstructural characterization of diamond films deposited on c-BN crystals

Author

Nistor, L.

Buschmann, V.

Ralchenko, V.

Dinca, G.

Vlasov, I.

van Landuyt, J.

Fuess, H.

Abstract

The morphology and structure of diamond films, deposited on cubic boron nitride (c-BN) crystals by microwave-plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, is studied by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The c-BN crystals, with sizes of 200 to 350 mu m and grown by a high-temperature/high-pressure technique, were embedded in a copper holder, and used as substrates in deposition runs of 15 min to 5 h. The nucleation centers for diamond appear as well-shaped cuboctahedral crystallites, having diameters of approximately 100 nm. With increasing deposition time the diamond crystallites grew larger, forming islands on the c-BN faces. In some cases, epitaxial growth was observed on the (111) c-BN faces where coalesced particles gave rise to very smooth regions. A number of diamond crystals with peculiar shapes are observed, such as a pseudo five-fold symmetry due to multiple twinning. Moreover, both randomly distributed carbon tubes, about 100 nn in diameter and 1 mu m in length, and spherically shaped features are observed in samples prepared under the typical conditions of diamond deposition, this effect being ascribed to the influence of plasma-sputtered copper contamination. Quite unusual diamond crystals with a deep, pyramidal-shaped hole in the middle grew on the copper substrate between the c-BN crystals. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Diamond and related materials. - Amsterdam

Source (book)

10th European Conference on Diamond, Diamond-Like Materials, Nitrides, and Silicon Carbide (Diamond 1999), SEP 12-17, 1999, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Publication

Amsterdam : 2000

ISSN

0925-9635

DOI

10.1016/S0925-9635(99)00246-0