Structural, Raman and photoluminescence studies on nanocrystalline diamond films: Effects of ammonia in feedstock

Herein, we report on the improvement of structural quality and enhancement of photoluminescence (PL) emission for an optimally N doped nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) film. Pure and N doped nanocrystalline diamond films are synthesized on Si by hot filament chemical vapour deposition using NH3:CH4:H2 at different nominal N/C ratios viz. 0, 0.13, 0.35, 0.50 and 0.75 in feedstock. X ray diffraction analysis reveal a systematic initial increase and then a decrease in crystallite size with N/C ratio in feedstock. Further, a monotonic increase in Raman line width and peak position of diamond band indicates that the compressive strain in diamond lattice increases as a function of N/C ratio upto 0.50. However, at higher N/C ratio of 0.75, the compressive strain gets relaxed a little and produces a lower strain. Furthermore, a unique Raman mode at 1195 cm-1 is observed corresponding to the C=N-H vibrations indicating a significant N concentration in the NCD films. In addition, visible and UV PL studies reveal the presence of several N related color centres with multiple emission lines in the range of 380 to 700 nm. An optimally N doped diamond film grown at N/C ratio of 0.35 in feedstock shows a significant enhancement in room temperature PL emission at about 505 and 700 nm. This PL enhancement is attributed to H3 and other aggregates of N related defect centres, under 355 and 532 nm laser excitations respectively.