Nitrogen termination of single crystal (100) diamond surface by radio frequency N-2 plasma process: An in-situ x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and secondary electron emission studies

作者：Chandran Maneesh; Shasha Michal; Michaelson Shaul; Hoffman Alon

来源：Applied Physics Letters, 2015, 107(11): 111602.

DOI：10.1063/1.4930945

In this letter, we report the electronic and chemical properties of nitrogen terminated (N-terminated) single crystal (100) diamond surface, which is a promising candidate for shallow NV- centers. N-termination is realized by an indirect RF nitrogen plasma process without inducing a large density of surface defects. Thermal stability and electronic property of N-terminated diamond surface are systematically investigated under well-controlled conditions by in-situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary electron emission. An increase in the low energy cut-off of the secondary electron energy distribution curve (EDC), with respect to a bare diamond surface, indicates a positive electron affinity of the N-terminated diamond. Exposure to atomic hydrogen results in reorganization of N-terminated diamond to H-terminated diamond, which exhibited a negative electron affinity surface. The change in intensity and spectral features of the secondary electron EDC of the N-terminated diamond is discussed.

• 出版日期2015-9-14