Fabrication of high density, adherent films of five-fold symmetric diamond crystals by hot filament chemical vapour deposition

► Five-fold symmetric diamond crystals (FSDCs) have been grown on different substrates. ► We explore the influence of HFCVD conditions on FSDC growth. ► We demonstrate the production of dense, adherent films with high FSDC content. ► The quality, adhesion and tribological behaviour of high density, adherent FSDC films were investigated. ► The diamond films show excellent adhesion under Rockwell indentation testing and sliding ball-on-flat wear tests.