Skip to main content
Log in

Boron doping of ultrananocrystalline diamond films by thermal diffusion process

  • Research Letter
  • Published:
MRS Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A novel process for Boron doping of ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films, using thermal diffusion, is described. Hall measurements show an increase in carrier concentration from 1013 to 1020 cm~3. Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy and x-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy show a band gap of 4.4 eV, a work function of 5.1 eV and a Fermi level at 2.0 eV above the valence band. Boron atoms distribution through UNCD films, was measured by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, revealing Boron atoms diffusivity of about 10~14 cm2/s. Raman spectroscopy and x-ray Diffraction analysis revealed that UNCD films did not suffer graphitization nor structural damage during annealing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Table I
Figure 4
Figure 5
Table II

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. O. Auciello and A.V. Sumant: Status review of the science and technology of ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD™) films and application to multifunctional devices. Diamond Relat. Mater. 19, 699 (2010); (www.thindiamond.com).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. K. Fabisiak and E. Staryga: CVD diamond: from growth to application. J. Achievements Mater. Manuf. Eng. 37, 264 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  3. A. Kraft: Doped diamond: a compact review on a new, versatile electrode material. Int. J. Electrochem. Sci. 2, 355 (2007).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. A.V. Suman, A.R. Krauss, D.M. Gruen, O. Auciello, A. Erdemir, M. Wlliams, A.F. Artiles, and W. Adams: Ultrananocrystalline diamond film as a wear-resistant and protective coating for mechanical seal applications. Tribol. Trans. 48, 24 (2005); (www.thindiamond.com).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. H. Zeng, A.R. Konicek, N. Moldovan, F. Mangolini, T. Jacobs, I. Wylie, P.U. Arumugam, S. Siddiqui, R.W. Carpick, and J.A. Carlisle: Boron-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond synthesized with an H-rich/Ar-lean gas system. Carbon. N. Y. 84, 103 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. X. Xiao, J. Wang, J.A. Carlisle, B. Mech, R. Greenberg, R. Freda, M.S. Humayun, J. Weiland, and O. Auciello: In Vitro and In Vivo evaluation of ultrananocrystalline diamond for coating of implantable retinal microchips. J. Biomed. Mater. 77B, 273 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. M. Suzuki, T. Ono, N. Sakuma, and T. Sakai: Low-temperature thermionic emission from nitrogen-doped nanocrystalline diamond films on n-type Si grown by MPCVD. Diamond Relat. Mater. 18, 1274 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. S. Bhattacharyya, O. Auciello, J. Birrell, J.A. Carlisle, L.A. Curtiss, A.N. Goyette, D.M. Gruen, A.R. Krauss, J. Schlueter, A.V. Sumant, and P. Zapol: Synthesis and characterization of highly-conducting nitrogen-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond films. Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 1441 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. S. Bhattacharyya: Mechanism of high n-type conduction in nitrogen-doped nanocrystalline diamond. Phys. Rev. B70, 125412 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. O. Williams: Growth and properties of nanocrystalline diamond films. Physica Status Solidi: Appl. Mater. Sci. 203, 3375 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Q. Sun, J. Wang, J. Weng, and F. Liu: Surface structure and electric properties of nitrogen incorporated NCD films. Vacuum 137, 155 (2017).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. H. Kato, D. Takeuchi, M. Ogura, T. Yamada, M. Kataoka, Y. Kimura, S. Sobue, C.E. Nebel, S. Yamasaki, S. Meir, C. Stephanos, T.H. Geballe, J. Mannhart, M. Suzuki, T. Ono, N. Sakuma, T. Sakai, J.W. Schwede, I. Bargatin, D.C. Riley, B.E. Hardin, S.J. Rosenthal, Y. Sun, F. Schmitt, P. Pianetta, R.T. Howe, Z.X. Shen, N.A. Melosh, T. Sun, and M. Grilj: Thermionic emission characterization of boron-doped microcrystalline diamond films at elevated temperatures. Diamond Relat. Mater. 5, 165 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  13. J. Seo, H. Wu, S. Mikael, H. Mi, J.P. Blanchard, G. Venkataramanan, W. Zhou, S. Gong, and D. Morgan: Thermal diffusion boron doping of single-crystal natural diamond. J. Appl. Phys. 119, 205703 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. C.J.H. Wort and R.S. Balmer: Diamond as an electronic material. Mater. Today 11, 22 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. M.K. Basher and K.M. Shorowordi: Fabrication of monocrystalline silicon solar cell using phosphorous diffusion technique. Int. J. Sci. Res. Pub. 5, 1 (2015).

    Google Scholar 

  16. A. Bentzen, G. Schubert, J.S. Christensen, B.G. Svensson, and A. Holt: Influence of temperature during phosphorus emitter diffusion from a spray-on source in multicrystalline silicon solar cell processing. J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater. 15, 3 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  17. J. Filik: Raman spectroscopy: a simple, non-destructive way to characterize diamond and diamond-like materials. Spectrosc. Eur. 17, 10 (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  18. J. Birrell, J.E. Gerbi, O. Auciello, J.M. Gibson, J. Johnson, and J.A. Carlisle: Interpretation of the Raman spectra of ultrananocrystalline diamond. Diamond Relat. Mater. 14, 86 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. E.M.A. Fuentes-Fernandez, J.J. Alcantar-Peña, G. Lee, A. Boulom, H. Phan, B. Smith, T. Nguyen, S. Sahoo, F. Ruiz-Zepeda, M.J. Arellano-Jimenez, P. Gurman, C.A. Martinez-Perez, M.J. Yacaman, R.S. Katiyar, and O. Auciello: Synthesis and characterization of microcrystalline diamond to ultrananocrystalline diamond films via Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition for scaling to large area applications. Thin Solid Films 603, 62 (2016).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. J.J. Alcantar-Peña, G. Lee, E.M.A. Fuentes-Fernandez, P. Gurman, M. Quevedo-Lopez, S. Sahoo, R.S. Katiyar, D. Berman, and O. Auciello: Science and technology of diamond films grown on HfO2 interface layer for transformational technologies. Diamond Relat. Mater. 69, 221 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. J. Cui, J. Ristein and L. Ley: Electron affinity of the bare and hydrogen covered single crystal diamond (111) surface. Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 429 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. R.S. Bob Downs and K. Bartelmehs: Interactive software for calculating and displaying x-ray or neutron powder diffractometer patterns of crystalline materials. Am. Mineral. 78, 1104 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  23. H.J.V. Tyrrell: The origin and present status of Fick’s diffusion law. J. Chem. Educ. 41, 397 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. T. Sung, G. Popovici, M.A. Prelas, and R.G. Wilson: Boron diffusion coefficient in diamond. MRS Proc. 416, 467 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. G. Popovici, T. Sung, S. Khasawinah, M.A. Prelas, and R.G. Wilson: Forced diffusion of impurities in natural diamond and polycrystalline diamond films. J. Appl. Phys. 77, 5625 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. J.C. Vickerman and I.S. Gilmore (eds.): Surface Analysis—The Principal Techniques, 2nd ed (John Wiley and Sons, Ltd., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2009).

    Google Scholar 

  27. M.T. Nichols, W. Li, D. Pei, G.A. Antonelli, Q. Lin, S. Banna, Y. Nishi, and J.L. Shoet: Measurement of bandgap energies in low-k organosilicates. J. Appl. Phys. 115, 94105 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. V. Pelaz: Activation and deactivation of implanted Boron in Si. Appl. Phys. Lett. 75, 662 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Pablo Tirado acknowledges the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) for their financial support during this research in the group of Dr. Auciello at the University of Texas at Dallas. Prof. O. Auciello acknowledges the valuable support from the University of Texas at Dallas, through funding provided by his Distinguished Endowed Chair professor position. Dr. Yuriy Kudriavtsev (CINVESTAV-IPN) acknowledges support from CINVESTAV.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Orlando Auciello.

Supplementary material

Supplementary material

The supplementary material for this article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2018.157.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tirado, P., Alcantar-Peña, J.J., de Obaldia, E. et al. Boron doping of ultrananocrystalline diamond films by thermal diffusion process. MRS Communications 8, 1111–1118 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2018.157

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2018.157

Navigation