KrF excimer laser-assisted combustion-flame deposition of diamond films

Cobalt (Co) composition has detrimental effects on the deposition of diamond films on cemented tungsten carbide (WC-Co) substrates. It decreases adhesion of the deposited films to the substrates and causes a transformation of sp(3)-bonded diamond to sp(2)-bonded graphite. In this study, a KrF excimer laser with a wavelength of 248 nm, a pulse width of 23 ns, and a pulse energy range of 84-450 mJ was used in the combustion-flame method to improve the quality of the deposited diamond films. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and Raman spectroscopy of the deposited films showed that a laser irradiation during combustion-flame deposition of diamond decreased the cobalt composition drastically. Based on the experimental results, the influence of the laser irradiation on the deposition process was analyzed. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.