# Size dependent etching of nanodiamond seeds in the early stages of CVD diamond growth

Source: [Size dependent etching of nanodiamond seeds in the early stages of CVD diamond growth](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa44201e209131ce90ef78>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-25T04:38:58.125Z

Authors: R. Salerno, B. Pede, M. Mastellone, V. Serpente, V. Valentini, A. Bellucci, D.M. Trucchi, F. Domenici, M. Tomellini, R. Polini

Published: 2023-05-02T10:26:11.000Z

## Abstract

We present an experimental study on the etching of detonation nanodiamond (DND) seeds during typical microwave chemical vapor deposition (MWCVD) conditions leading to ultra-thin diamond film formation, which is fundamental for many technological applications. The temporal evolution of the surface density of seeds on Si(100) substrate has been assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The resulting kinetics have been explained in the framework of a model based on the effect of particle size, according to the Young-Laplace equation, on both chemical potential of carbon atoms in DND and activation energy of reaction. We found that seeds with size smaller than a critical radius, r\*, are etched away while those greater than r\* can grow. Finally, the model allows to estimate the rate coefficients for growth and etching from the experimental kinetics.

## Recorded benchmark results

A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage.

## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.01302>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/2305.01302.pdf>)