Transformation of polymer composite nanofibers to diamond fibers and films by microwave plasma-enhanced CVD process

- Composite PVA polymer nanofibers with UDD powder by needle-less electrospinning.
- We examine changes to the NCD growth as a function of UDD concentration.
- Formation of diamond fibres is driven by UDD concentration and fibers radii.
- Growth of diamond layers is preferred on low porosity areas.
- Influence of spundond structure is decreased with lowering of UDD concentration.

In this work, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers were used as a polymer matrix containing ultra-dispersed diamond (UDD) nanoparticles. Growth of diamond fiber-like structures and films by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition was studied as a function of UDD concentration in the PVA matrix. The influence of surface tension (fibers radii) for nucleation/seeding is discussed. Using a high UDD concentration in the polymer matrix lead to the formation of fiber-like structures. The composite PVA polymer nanofibers with the highest concentration of UDD nanoparticles resulted in the growth of nearly continuous diamond film at low thickness of 250 nm.