Ambient contamination of poly-crystalline diamond surfaces studied by high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

In this work we provide direct evidence of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen contamination of poly-crystalline diamond surfaces from ambient conditions and their thermal stability upon vacuum annealing. Deuterated diamond films were exposed to ambient conditions for ~ 3 months and then studied by high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Hydrocarbon contaminations posses at least two different binding states which desorb upon annealing to ~ 300 °C and ~ 600 °C. Oxygen contaminations gradually desorb upon annealing to 700–800 °C. It is shown that thermal desorption of contaminations creates sp2 carbon atoms on the diamond film surface.