The roles of H and O atoms in diamond growth

A chemical interaction of hydrogen and oxygen atoms with a surface of sp(2)-hybridized carbon solids (graphite, soot and C-60) has been studied by XPS and X-ray-excited AES methods. The transition of carbon atoms from the sp(2) state to the sp(3)-hybridized slate has been observed. The measured concentration of the sp(3)-hybridized carbon atoms on the surface is in excess of the C-O bonds concentration. On the basis of these data, the following model of a carbon film growth is proposed: decay of double carbon bonds by H and O atoms and formation of the sp(3)-hybridized C-C, C-H and C-O bonds. It is suggested that one of the key roles of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the diamond Nm growth is sp(2)-->sp(3) conversion of C-C bonds on a surface under deposition. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.