This study explores the electron emission of natural, nitrogen-doped diamond at elevated temperatures. The diamond was resistively heated up to 870°C. Accruing negatively charged particles where accelerated by a bias voltage of 30 V and the energy distribution is measured. The electrons are analysed by an electrostatic deflection resulting in an energy resolution of 70 meV. A hydrogen-free surface at a base pressure of 2.0×10−9 mbar shows a very small emission. The energy distribution has its maximum at 2.5 eV and a FWHM of 0.52 eV. Beside the main emission peak, some smaller features are observable at higher energies. An atomic hydrogen supply at 1.9×10−5 mbar increases the emission by a factor of 30. With some delay to the hydrogen supply, a new low energy peak appears. The increase in intensity during hydrogen adsorption is explained by the occurrence of a negative electron affinity (NEA) of the hydrogen-covered diamond surface. The low-energy feature might be due to hydrogen ions, either desorbing from the surface or from charge transfer during collisions of gas phase hydrogen with the diamond surface.    «

This study explores the electron emission of natural, nitrogen-doped diamond at elevated temperatures. The diamond was resistively heated up to 870°C. Accruing negatively charged particles where accelerated by a bias voltage of 30 V and the energy distribution is measured. The electrons are analysed by an electrostatic deflection resulting in an energy resolution of 70 meV. A hydrogen-free surface at a base pressure of 2.0×10−9 mbar shows a very small emission. The energy distribution has its ma...    »