Thermally stimulated conductivity and luminescence in polycrystalline diamond films

Thermally stimulated currents (TSC) and thermoluminescence (TL) have been studied in polycrystalline diamond films of different qualities in order to gain information about the deep levels present within the bandgap of this material. The TL has been studied between 300 and 670 K after UV light illumination, and the TSC between 300 and 600 K after various excitations (UV light, from a tungsten lamp, X-rays). TL and TSC peaks are observed at 470 and 560 K, and depend on the quality of the diamond and on the illumination conditions. At low temperature three TSC peaks appear at 245, 283 and 312 K after illumination with a tungsten lamp. A spectral analysis of the 470 K luminescence and electron emission measurement shows that the defect associated with this signal is an acceptor, and the hole released is trapped on a level 2.6 eV deep. Complementary ESR measurements show that paramagnetic nitrogen centers are not involved in the peak observed at 560 K.