Origin of surface conductivity in diamond

Ristein J, Maier F, Ley L (2000)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2000

Journal

Physical Review Letters American Physical Society

Publisher: American Physical Society

Book Volume: 85

Pages Range: 3472-5

Journal Issue: 16

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.3472

Abstract

Experimental evidence is presented which supports an electrochemical model for the pronounced surface conductivity of hydrogen-terminated diamond. In this model hydrogenation rises the valence band maximum (VBM) of diamond sufficiently with respect to the vacuum level to place it just above the chemical potential of electrons in the liquid phase (μe) of a mildly acidic water layer physisorbed at the surface. Electron transfer from diamond to the H3O+/(H2O + H2) redox couple accounts for the hole accumulation layer. In equilibrium, the diamond surface Fermi level position is pinned at μe which coincides essentially with the VBM. Small variations in that Fermi level position with respect to VBM and thus variations in conductivity with the pH value of the wetting layer and the H2 partial pressure are quantitatively accounted for via Nernst's equation.

Authors with CRIS profile

Jürgen Ristein Lehrstuhl für Laserphysik Florian Maier Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie II Lothar Ley Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät

How to cite

APA:

Ristein, J., Maier, F., & Ley, L. (2000). Origin of surface conductivity in diamond. Physical Review Letters, 85(16), 3472-5. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.3472

MLA:

Ristein, Jürgen, Florian Maier, and Lothar Ley. "Origin of surface conductivity in diamond." Physical Review Letters 85.16 (2000): 3472-5.

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