Heteroepitaxial growth very often involves intermixing effects at the
interface between the two distinct materials. Sometimes even severe ch
emical reactions can occur which lead to the formation of new chemical
phases in the interface region. The formation of SiC, for instance, m
ay occur at the diamond/silicon interface depending on the growth cond
ition. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is applied in order to
assess the diamond/silicon interface properties and to detect possible
SiC formation. Spectra are taken in regular reflection, transmission,
and ATR configurations. Quantitative analysis is achieved by comparis
on of measurement and model calculation. The various measurement confi
gurations used are discussed in terms of sensitivity for interface ass
essment.