DIAMOND SYNTHESIS FROM VAPOR-PHASE AND ITS GROWTH-PROCESS

Diamond synthesis from the vapor phase has been studied using hot filament assisted CVD, microwave plasma assisted CVD in an open system, and chemical transport process in a closed system using a gas mixture of hydrocarbon diluted with hydrogen gas. The deposited materials were identified as a cubic diamond with x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurement. The deposition process of diamond was considered on the basis of these experimental results. The results suggest that the diamond synthesis proceeded by the deposition process, with the etching process operating simultaneously, and that atomic hydrogen played a very important role as the etching agent for non-diamond carbon. Also, the deposition process would be considered as the method that utilizes the bonding energy difference on each crystal surface of the diamond. The complicated problems on diamond synthesis originate from the fact that a third allotropic form exists in carbon, that is, the carbyne group.