Photoemission tuning of nanodiamond particles treated in variable percentages of H_2-N_2 plasmas


Abstract


This work deals with photochatodes (PCs) based on as-received and treated nanodiamond (ND) particles, 250 nm in size. The aim of this study is the hydro-, hydro-/nitro- and nitro-genation of NDs performed in microwave plasmas adding different N_2 percentages (0, 50 and 100 %) to pure H_2 gas. Untreated and treated NDs are dispersed in solvents such as 1,2-dichloroethane and deionized water, and then deposited, as continuous layers, on p-Si and kapton substrates by the pulsed spray technique. The produced layers are characterized by Raman, photoluminescence spectroscopies and photoemission measurements. The quantum efficiency (QE), a merit figure for photocathodes, is assessed in the UV spectral range from 146 to 210 nm. The results show an enhancement of the photoemission for PCs based on hydro-, hydro-/nitro- and nitro-genated NDs that exhibit at 146 nm QE values of about 23, 21 and 13 %, respectively. The advantage of nitrogenated PCs is the good stability to air exposure against their lowest QE values.

DOI Code: 10.1285/i9788883051302p17

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