Surface Zeta Potential and Diamond Seeding on Gallium Nitride Films

The measurement of ζ potential of Ga-face and N-face gallium nitride has been carried out as a function of pH. Both of the faces show negative ζ potential in the pH range 5.5-9. The Ga-face has an isoelectric point at pH 5.5. The N-face shows a more negative ζ potential due to larger concentration of adsorbed oxygen. The ζ potential data clearly showed that H-terminated diamond seed solution at pH 8 will be optimal for the self-assembly of a monolayer of diamond nanoparticles on the GaN surface. The subsequent growth of thin diamond films on GaN seeded with H-terminated diamond seeds produced fully coalesced films, confirming a seeding density in excess of 10¹¹ cm^-2. This technique removes the requirement for a low thermal conduction seeding layer like silicon nitride on GaN.