Diffusion characteristics of hydrogen in diamond

Hydrogen is known to play a significant role in the growth of diamond, and has been reported to influence its electrical properties. Despite some succ esses made in studying hydrogen in diamond, the configuration, chemistry an d behaviour are not yet well established. This work is aimed at reporting o n some of the outstanding questions about hydrogen in diamond. We report on micro-scanning Heavy Ion-Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (mu HI-ERDA) me asurements of hydrogen in a type IIa diamond. The diamond was subjected to various treatments. These include plasma loading of hydrogen, creation of v acancies by ion implantation and annealing. The results show no evidence of the presence of hydrogen in the diamond bulk due to plasma loading, even a fter the creation of vacancies followed by plasma loading of hydrogen. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.