Studies on distribution of element contents in transient layer at interface between boron-doped diamond film electrode and tantalum substrate

The boron-doped diamond film (BDD) grown on tantalum (Ta) substrate as an electrode (BDD/Ta) was prepared by hot filament chemical vapor deposition method. The experimental results demonstrated that our BDD/Ta had high current efficiency, strong ability to degrade wastewater, good corrosion stability and long lifetime. These excellent characteristics of BDD/Ta have been explained in terms of Rutherford backscattering (RBS) experiments. RBS investigation revealed that the continuous transient layer at the interface between boron-doped diamond film and Ta-substrate was formed and the microstructure of the continuous transient layer given by the continuous distribution of all element contents at the interface was obtained. The thicknesses of boron-doped diamond film and the continuous transient layer were about equal to 8000 × 1015 atoms/cm2 and 5800 × 1015 atoms/cm2, respectively. The formation of the continuous transient layer at the interface can eliminate the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients (TEC) at the interface and only lead to the slow change of TEC because of the continuous distribution of element contents of the film and substrate in the transient layer at the interface. Thus, there is no residual stress to concentrate on the interface and the stress-corrosion delamination of the film disappears. Therefore, the corrosion stability and lifetime of BDD/Ta increase and last well, that have been verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments.

Research highlights► Continuous transient layer was grown at interface between film and substrate. ► Mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients at interface was eliminated. ► Stress-corrosion delamination of film disappeared. ► Corrosion stability and working lifetime of boron-doped diamond film increased.