DIAMOND THIN-FILMS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

Polycrystalline diamond thin films can now be fabricated at low pressures and temperatures by the thermal or plasma-assisted dissociation of hydrocarbon-hydrogen gas mixtures. This has generated considerable worldwide interest because of the remarkable properties of diamond in terms of hardness, thermal conductivity, semiconductivity, electronic transport, optical transparency and thermal and chemical stability. This paper reviews these issues with particular emphasis on the status of progress towards realizing some of the potential applications of these films.