Photoelectron spectroscopy and microscopy using synchrotron radiation for exploiting diamond surfaces and interfaces

该项目涉及先进的X射线表征方法的应用，这些方法针对碳基材料的研究进行了优化，以解决钻石科学和技术中的关键基础问题。近年来，金刚石已经成为一种功能性宽禁带半导体材料，这主要是由于金刚石合成的进步，其质量水平已经达到了更传统的晶体半导体的水平。尽管其结构与这些材料相似，但金刚石始终表现出独特的性能，例如其高导热性，热稳定性和辐射稳定性以及负电子亲和力，这些特性使利基和新的电子和光电应用成为可能。在金刚石电子学中仍有许多实际问题需要解决（例如，有效的低电阻和整流接触，优化的n型掺杂以及热和化学过程的控制），并且需要更好地理解新现象和应用（例如，转移掺杂，纳米金刚石传感器和量子存储）。该背景为项目学生提供了一套理想的挑战，该项目学生配备了互补表征方法（X射线吸收光谱法，X射线光电子能谱法和X射线光电子显微镜法）形式的适当工具，可以原位应用于探测能级，化学和局部结构之间的相互作用，具有高能量，时间和空间分辨率。实际问题的解决方案将确保为博士课程生成有用数据的高概率，而与最明亮的光源相结合的最有效的实验探测器和探测器的技术应用将确保发现新科学的同等可能性。

This project involves the application of advanced x-ray characterisation methods optimised for the study of carbon-based materials to address key fundamental issues in diamond science and technology. Diamond has emerged in recent years as a functional wide-gap semiconducting material largely enabled by advances in diamond synthesis to a level of quality that has reached that of more conventional crystalline semiconductors. In spite of its structural similarity to these materials, diamond has consistently exhibited unique properties such as its high thermal conductivity, thermal and radiation stability and negative electron affinity that enable niche and new electronic and optoelectronic applications. There remain many practical issues to resolve in diamond electronics (e.g. efficient low resistance and rectifying contacts, optimised n-type doping and control of thermal and chemical processes) and there is a need for better understanding of new phenomenon and applications (e.g. transfer doping, nanodiamond sensors and quantum storage). This background provides an ideal set of challenges for a project student equipped with the appropriate tools in the form of complementary characterisation methods (X-ray Absorption Spectroscsopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Microscopy) that can be applied in-situ to probe the interplay between energy levels, chemistry and local structure with high energy, temporal and spatial resolution. Solutions to the practical issues will ensure a high probability of generating useful data for the PhD programme while the application of techniques operating with the brightest sources coupled to the most efficient experimental probes and detectors will ensure an equal likelihood of discovering new science.