Growth of diamond nanoplatelets on nanocrystalline diamond substrates

We report the growth of single crystalline diamond nanoplatelets (DNPs) on different types of nano-crystalline diamond substrates by high temperature microwave-plasma chemical vapor deposition. The influence of methane concentration on DNP morphologies has been studied. According to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observation, DNPs are typical tabular twined crystallites which consist of several twin lamellae parallel to platelet surfaces and the side-face structure of DNPs is the ridge-and-trough structure consisting of {100} and {111} faces. The field emission properties of DNPs with various morphologies and nano-crystalline diamond substrates were characterized. The turn-on electrical field of DNPs with well-faceted side edges was lower in comparison with the DNPs with irregular shapes and nano-crystalline-diamond substrate.