Publication
Title
Theoretical investigation of grain size tuning during prolonged bias-enhanced nucleation
Author
Abstract
In this paper, the effects of prolonged bias-enhanced nucleation (prolonged BEN) on the growth mechanisms of diamond are investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) and combined MD-Metropolis Monte Carlo (MD-MMC) simulations. First, cumulative impacts of CxHy+ and Hx+ on an a-C:H/nanodiamond composite were simulated; second, nonconsecutive impacts of the dominant ions were simulated in order to understand the observed phenomena in more detail. As stated in the existing literature, the growth of diamond structures during prolonged BEN is a process that takes place below the surface of the growing film. The investigation of the penetration behavior of CxHy+ and Hx+ species shows that the carbon-containing ions remain trapped within this amorphous phase where they dominate mechanisms like precipitation of sp3 carbon clusters. The H+ ions, however, penetrate into the crystalline phase at high bias voltages (>100 V), destroying the perfect diamond structure. The experimentally measured reduction of grain sizes at high bias voltage, reported in the literature, might thus be related to penetrating H+ ions. Furthermore, the CxHy+ ions are found to be the most efficient sputtering agents, preventing the build up of defective material.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Chemistry of materials / American Chemical Society. - Washington, D.C., 1989, currens
Publication
Washington, D.C. : 2011
ISSN
0897-4756 [print]
1520-5002 [online]
DOI
10.1021/CM102481Y
Volume/pages
23 :6 (2011) , p. 1414-1423
ISI
000288291400011
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
CalcUA as central calculation facility: supporting core facilities.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 29.03.2011
Last edited 22.01.2024
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