Preliminary Exploration of Diamond Formation at Atmospheric Pressure Using Laser Sustained Plasmas
Open Access
Author:
Githens, Alan Stover
Area of Honors:
Engineering Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Judith A Todd Copley, Thesis Supervisor Clifford Jesse Lissenden III, Thesis Honors Advisor Dr. Vladimir Semak, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
diamond chemical vapor deposition laser sustained plasma
Abstract:
An investigation of diamond chemical vapor deposition using laser sustained plasmas in open atmosphere was conducted. The main goal was to replicate past research, which successfully deposited a polycrystalline diamond film on a tungsten substrate. A cooling stage was developed to maintain the substrate surface temperature below 1000°C, ideal conditions for diamond formation. Scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to study deposited films. Both graphite and polycrystalline diamond films were created. The Raman spectra of several locations on our samples matched the spectra of Bolshakov et al. (Bolshakov AP, Vostrikov VG, Dubrovskii VY, Konov VI, Kosyrev FK, Naumov VG, Ral'chenko VG. A laser plasmotron for chamberless deposition of diamond films. Quantum Electronics. 2005;35(4):385-389.), indicating that their work was replicated.
