Hydrogen and oxygen chemistry and dynamics in diamond studied by nuclear microscopic techniques

Hydrogen and oxygen play a significant role in the growth of diamond chemic al vapour deposition (CVD), and also influence its electrical, optical and structural properties. Using the microERDA technique, trapping and diffusio n of hydrogen in a range of different types of natural and synthetic diamon d have been investigated under different conditions such as high dose hydro gen implants after creation of vacancies and plasma loading of hydrogen. Re cently, these have been extended to include natural p-type semiconducting d iamond. Resonance RBS and forward scattering in channelling transmission mo de with thin diamond single crystals have been used to determine the concen tration and lattice site occupancy of surface oxygen. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.