Characterization of catalytically synthesized turbostratic carbon films used for improved rates of diamond nucleation

Turbostratic carbon (TC) films pre-deposited onto copper substrates cause extremely rapid nucleation of diamond when heated in the presence of atomic hydrogen at approximately 1273 K. Transmission electron microscopy and diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the catalytically synthesized TC films. Fine structure analyses in the vicinity of the primary carbon KLL Auger peak showed that the electronic structure of the TC films resembled that of graphite, indicating that the majority of carbon bonding was of sp 2 type. By heating in the presence of atomic hydrogen, the Auger fine structure changed towards the fine structure of diamond. The results are discussed in terms of the formation of stable sp 3 bonding caused by atomic hydrogen.