The modifications of the (111) surfaces of a type-IIb natural diamond
and a CVD diamond film upon annealing and exposure to atomic hydrogen
have been examined by ultraviolet-excited (UPS) and X-ray-excited (XPS
) photoelectron spectroscopy. Besides the two surface configurations c
ommonly described in the literature, i.e. the clean reconstructed surf
ace and the one associated with a monohydride passivation, a third con
figuration which evolves upon extreme hydrogen exposure has been obser
ved.