On the Phase Transformations and Field-Emission Properties of Diamond and Graphite Structures upon the Ion Implantation of Nitrogen

Abstract

The correlation regularities of changes in the structural phase composition, and morphological and field-emission characteristics of nanocomposite diamond and graphite film structures prepared in the microwave plasma of ethanol vapors, depending on the irradiation dose by nitrogen ions with an energy of 20 keV, are studied. The optimum ion-implantation doses at which the maximum densities of the field-emission currents increase significantly in comparison with unirradiated structures are found. The physical and chemical mechanisms responsible for modification of the surface and near-surface properties of diamond and graphite structures upon the ion implantation of nitrogen are considered.