PLD deposition of tungsten carbide contact for diamond photodiodes. Influence of process conditions on electronic and chemical aspects

► Pulsed laser ablation from a WC target, to obtain Schottky contact to single crystal diamond, as an active photodiode. ► Nano-second (excimer ArF) and femto-second (Ti:Sapphire) laser have been compared. ► Pure CH4 and mixture of CH4/Ar plasma activated have been used to study the WC ablation/decomposition. ► The films have been characterised for morphology and chemical composition by SEM, Raman and XPS analysis. ► Promising results have been obtained for rectifying contact on diamond, using fs laser.