Metal/insulator/semiconductor tunnel diodes formed by the oxidation of polycrystalline diamond films

Abstract
Polycrystallinediamondfilms have been annealed under O2 at 600 °C, or have been dipped in a H2SO4/CrO3 solution. Both treatments result in the formation of a thin electrically insulating layer at the top of the films. Subsequent metallization results in the formation of a metal/insulator/diamond tunnel diode with a potential barrier for holes of 0.85 eV, and with a Fermi level localized at about 0.45 eV above the diamond valence band.