Characterization of locally modified diamond surface using Kelvin probe force microscope

The surface potential difference between an H-terminated surface and a locally oxidized diamond surface produced by an atomic force microprobe was investigated using a Kelvin probe force microscope. The potential of the H-terminated diamond surface was observed to be ∼0.1 V higher than that of the oxidized diamond surface. The surface potential difference can be interpreted in terms of the positions of the vacuum level, the Fermi level, and the conduction and valence band edges, when negative electron affinity and p-type surface conduction are assumed on the H-terminated diamond surface. The surface dipole induced by the electronegativity differences between the surface atoms of the diamond affects the difference in the surface potential between the two surfaces.