Characterization of a sandwich-type large CVD single crystal diamond particle detector fabricated using a lift-off method

Crystallinity of a freestanding large (size: ~ 9 × 7 mm) undoped single crystal (SC) diamond film grown by plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and radiation response of a sandwich-type radiation detector made from this SC plate to α particles were investigated. The freestanding SC film was formed by elimination of a substrate using a so-called “lift-off method” after the growth of a thick-film on a pre-ion-implanted substrate. The formed SC plate has a high optical transparency, indicating no remarkable optical absorption seen in the wavelength from ultraviolet to near-infrared region. In the energy spectra of 5.486 MeV α-particles, relatively sharp peaks were observed for both hole and electron transits. For the hole transit, the peak resolution of the pulse height distribution and charge collection efficiency (CCE) were ~ 0.7% and 98%, respectively. On the other hand, for the electron transit, the peak resolution and CCE obtained were ~ 4.4% and 89%, respectively. In the photoluminescence spectrum at room temperature, a strong sharp peak around 235 nm corresponding to free exciton and a weak visible band mainly related to nitrogen-vacancy complex were observed. The spectral width of the (004) plane X-ray rocking curve was 16.5″. The micrograph taken using crossed-polarizers demonstrated that there are some white regions and four-petaled patterns, originating from internal strain and most likely threading dislocations, respectively.

► A large undoped freestanding SC diamond plate was produced by the lift-off method.
► The formed SC plate has a high optical transparency.
► In the energy spectra of 5.486 MeV α-particles, the peak resolution (FWHM) and CCE were ~ 0.7 % and 98% for holes.
► The peak resolution and CCE obtained were ~ 4.4 % and 89% for electrons.
► In the PL spectra at RT, a sharp peak around 235 nm and a weak visible band were observed and FWHM of the X-ray rocking curve was 16.5″.