Field emission conduction mechanisms in chemical-vapour-deposited diamond and diamond-like carbon films

The observed current-voltage relations from the field emission of electrons from a number of different types of diamond and diamond-like films have be en fitted to a variety of mathematical models for charge transport through poor conductors. We find that the Fowler-Nordheim model provides no better a description for the overall conduction mechanism than three alternative m echanisms involving transport through the bulk, and this holds for emission from natural diamond, various doped and undoped CVD diamond films, and dia mond-like carbon (a-C:H). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserve d.