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Diamond radiation detector is an ideal choice for the next-generation radiation detection in harsh environments, due to its small size, high irradiation resistance and fast response. However, high-purity single crystal diamond is hard to be prepared at the high growth rate due to the inevitable impurity incorporation. In this paper, based on the high-quality high-temperature/high-pressure (HPHT) single crystal diamond substrate, detector-grade single crystal diamonds material with high purity and low defect density were epitaxially grown at growth rate of about 4 μm/h by using plasma environment purification technology. It showed that the full width at half maximum of X-ray rocking curve of high-quality single crystal diamond could reach 0.007°, there was no nitrogen related impurity in PL spectrum, and the substitutional nitrogen content estimated by UV absorption spectrum was less than 10 ppb. After metallization and packaging process, the diamond detectors were prepared and the detector response under irradiation with 241Am α-particles was realized. For the sample with fewer dislocations, the charge collection efficiency and energy resolution of this detector were 86.8 % and 7.85 % for electrons, and 96.7 % and 2.48 % for holes. The product of mobility and lifetime of electrons and holes were 1.7 × 10−4 cm2V−1 and 3.7 × 10−4 cm2V−1, respectively. The high performances of the detector indicate that the current diamond detector can meet the application requirements of commercial diamond detectors. [Display omitted] • Detector-grade diamond was prepared by plasma environment purification technology. • The high-purity single crystal diamond was grown at growth rate of about 4 μm/h. • The diamond detector with charge collection efficiency of 96.7 % was realized. • The products of mobility and lifetime of electrons and holes were 1.7 × 10−4 and 3.7 × 10−4 cm2V−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface etching of single-crystal diamond (SCD) in hydrogen plasma plays a decisive role for high-quality homoepitaxy and surface conduction of diamond. The complexity of surface/subsurface condition such as defects would give rise to the distinct morphology features and even further result in the unpredictable properties. Correspondingly, the evolutionary relationship between the morphology and electrical properties of mechanically polished SCDs which have typical cleavage damage in microns depth after hydrogen plasma treatment still needs to be further completed. In this work, the chemical vapor deposited (CVD) SCDs with uniform polishing-caused subsurface cleavage were immersed in microwave hydrogen plasma for variable duration. Time-dependent morphological evolution, multi-mode etched pits (EPs) (resulting from local defects/cracks and dislocations) and associated etching mechanism were comprehensively studied. At the early stage of plasma treatment before 60 min, owing to the obvious surface roughing generated by preferential etching (with the rate of >400 nm/h) of severe mechanically damaged regions, the hole mobility was significantly deteriorated, also accompanying with the apparent drop of sheet concentration. Concurrently, the deposited surface sp 2 amorphous carbon (a -C) nanodots on diamond surface and non- sp 3 hydrogen bonds reconstruction, which arising from defect-etching produced local abundant carbon-containing radicals or possible exfoliation generated by hydrogen penetration of massive defective regions, also would play an adverse role for the conduction associated with (100) C–H surface. However, the surface roughness was reduced from the maximum 13.2 nm–4.2 nm by prolonging etching, resulting from the smoothing effect of small-angle crystal misorientation on waved height difference related to the uniform (111) cleavage and the removal of dense irregular EPs associated with polishing-induced local defects as well as the vanishing of surface a -C nanodots. In this case, the improvement of surface electrical properties together with the negative correlation of the mobility and sheet concentration were appeared by the gradual formation of (100) diamond surface and the building of uniform (100) C–H bonds. • CVD SCDs with typical subsurface damages(defects) were treated in pure hydrogen plasma. • Morphology evolution associated with polishing defects was time-dependently presented. • Surface sp2 nanodots deposition from defect-etching and CH reconstruction would affect electrical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]