Polycarbynes: A new synthetic approach and application to the nucleation of CVD diamond

Abstract New methods have been developed for obtaining three preceramic polycarbyne-family polymers. Poly(hydridocarbyne) (PHC) and poly(phenylcarbyne) (PPC) have been synthesized via a mechanically activated reaction between magnesium metal and CRX 3 (R = H, Ph; X = Br, Cl). Poly(naphthalene- co -hydridocarbyne) (PNHC) have been obtained by reacting CHBr 3 with sodium naphthalide. The efficiencies of PHC, PPC, and PNHC as sources of diamond nuclei in the microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition of diamond films on silicon substrates have been compared. The highest efficiency has been demonstrated by PHC with a high molecular weight, for which the nucleation density has been estimated at ≥ 10 9 nuclei per square centimeter of the substrate surface.