Interface between CVD diamond and iridium films

The interface between [100]-oriented diamond and Ir{100} substrates was obs erved through electron diffraction patterns and high resolution electron mi croscopy at atomic scale. The following crystallographic orientation relati onships were obtained by analyzing from the [110] direction: {001}(diamond) //{001}(Ir) [100](diamond)//[100](Ir). The misfit dislocations were also ob served at the interface, suggesting that diamond and Ir had strong chemical bonding. The growth mechanism of diamond on Ir substrates was discussed, f ocused on the initial stage of nucleation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.