Diamond particles and films synthesized on silicon from CO/H-2 by micr
owave plasma chemical vapour deposition (CVD) are characterized. Intri
nsic defects are investigated by electron miroscopy. The dominant disl
ocation located at the centre of the initial-stage particle governs th
e crystallinity of grown particles. Spotted layer growth on the {111}
surface causes inferiority of {111} growth sectors. Substrate-induced
distortion occurs by incorporation of a silicon protuberance inside th
e grown particle. New misorientated secondary nucleation occurs at til
e grain boundaries during formation of a polycrystalline film. Further
more, residual ion-implantation-induced defects after restoration in a
plasma are investigated by cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements. Res
idual point defects after annealing in plasma are observed from 2.156
and 3.189 eV centres. A higher rate of removal of the damaged region b
y H-2 plasma treatment occurs at higher doses. The addition of 1% CO t
o the plasma suppresses the removal of the damaged region and reduces
implantation-induced point defects.