Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Diamond films were successfully synthesized on high-entropy alloy substrates via MPCVD, achieving continuous, uniform, and adherent coatings. • The diamond/TiZrHfMo sample exhibited excellent corrosion resistance with a corrosion potential of −0.169 V in 3.5wt% NaCl solution. • A multiple regression model revealed that mixing entropy significantly influences grain size and corrosion properties of the diamond films. • This work demonstrates the potential of high-entropy alloys as substrates for high-quality diamond film growth, expanding applications in harsh environments.
Abstract
The heteroepitaxy of diamond films has received widespread attention; however, its application remains limited owing to the mismatch in properties and structure between diamond and heterogeneous substrates. In this study, diamond films were successfully synthesized on high-entropy alloys (HEAs) substrates using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. The resulting diamond films were continuous, uniform, and adhered to the HEAs substrates. The mixed carbides were identified using X-ray diffraction, and the quality of the diamond films was examined using Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the corrosion test revealed that the diamond/TiZrHfMo samples had excellent electrochemical stability and corrosion resistance with a corrosion potential value of −0.169 V in a 3.5wt% NaCl solution. A multiple regression model was established to evaluate the effects of the structure and growth parameters, which confirmed that the mixing entropy significantly affected the grain size and corrosion properties.
1. Introduction
Diamond is widely recognized for its excellent properties, such as ultrahigh hardness, excellent thermal conductivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and superior corrosion resistance. These qualities make it a preferred material in various industries, including cutting tools, electronic devices, aerospace applications [1–4], etc. While homogeneous epitaxy is an effective technique for growing diamond films, it is costly and ineffective limit its use in large-scale diamond production. As a result, heterogeneous epitaxy has become the choice for growing large diamonds. Among the various heteroepitaxial techniques, microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) has become an outstanding method for heteroepitaxial diamond films due to its high deposition rate, large deposition areas, and controllable temperature and pressure, which can produce diamond films with uniform thickness and high crystallinity [5–7].
Nucleation and growth are critical factors in the deposition of diamond films on heterogeneous substrates. Recently, it has been reported that diamond films can be deposited on various conventional low-entropy alloy substrates. Previous research has prepared diamond films on refractory metal substrates (Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta) using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach; however, a long time is needed to form a continuous film [8–11]. Although diamonds could be grown on NiAl and FeSi2 binary alloy substrates, the films were discontinuous after 4 h of deposition. Large amounts of graphite and amorphous carbon still prevail on the surface, resulting in a low density of diamond nucleation [12]. Furthermore, the quality of continuous diamond films is improved by deposition on the ternary alloy substrates Fe–Cr–Al and Ti–13Nb–13Zr for 10 h and 2 h, respectively [13–14]. It is clear that changes in the substrate components and an increase in the entropy value can alter the growth quality of the diamond films. However, high-quality diamond films remain a challenge for heterogeneous substrates with different group elements and require further exploration and design.
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Wenchao Xu, Yongsheng Wang, Xiaoqin Yang, Zhen Zeng, Jianwei Wang, Naixu Wang, Sifan Chen, Dariusz M. Jarząbek, Shengwang Yu (2025). Synthesis diamond films on high entropy alloys by chemical vapor deposition: Microstructure, growth behavior and corrosion. Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-025-3167-x
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Frequently Asked Questions
What method was used to synthesize diamond films on high-entropy alloys?
The diamond films were synthesized using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD).
What was the corrosion potential of the diamond/TiZrHfMo sample in 3.5wt% NaCl solution?
The corrosion potential was −0.169 V, indicating excellent electrochemical stability and corrosion resistance.
How did mixing entropy affect the diamond film properties?
A multiple regression model confirmed that mixing entropy significantly affected the grain size and corrosion properties of the diamond films.
What are the key characteristics of the synthesized diamond films?
The diamond films were continuous, uniform, and adhered well to the high-entropy alloy substrates.
Why are high-entropy alloys considered as substrates for diamond growth?
High-entropy alloys offer unique properties and four main effects, and previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of growing diamond films on them, potentially improving nucleation and growth.
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