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Diffusion of nitrogen in diamond and the formation of A-centres

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Jon Goss

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Abstract

It has long been understood that nitrogen in diamond energetically favours aggregated forms as a consequence of the reduction in the number of dangling bonds. Thus heating to around 1500 degrees C leads to the formation of A-centres, which are close-by pairs of substitutional N atoms. However, the mechanism by which N moves through the diamond lattice to form the aggregates is much less clear, although for some time it has been generally thought that it may be mediated by lattice vacancies. In this study, we review the energetics of this mechanism in comparison to one based upon self-interstitials, and show that the available experimental evidence is much more consistent with an interstitial mechanism than one based upon lattice vacancies. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Jones R, Goss JP, Pinto H, Palmer DW

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Diamond and Related Materials

Year: 2015

Volume: 53

Pages: 35-39

Print publication date: 01/03/2015

Online publication date: 21/01/2015

Acceptance date: 07/01/2015

ISSN (print): 0925-9635

ISSN (electronic): 1879-0062

Publisher: Elsevier Science SA

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2015.01.002

DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2015.01.002

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