Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for depositing diamond films and particles on a variety of substrates by flowing a gas or gas mixture capable of supplying (1) carbon, (2) hydrogen, (3) a halogen and, preferably, (4) a chalcogen through a reactor over the substrate material. The reactant gases may be premixed with an inert gas in order to keep the overall gas mixture composition low in volume percent of carbon and rich in hydrogen. Pre-treatment of the reactant gases to a high energy state is not required as it is in most prior art processes for chemical vapor deposition of diamond. Since pretreatment is not required, the process may be applied to substrates of virtually any desired size, shape or configuration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for depositing diamond films and particles on a variety of substrates by flowing a gas or gas mixture capable of supplying (1) carbon, (2) hydrogen and (3) a halogen through a reactor over the substrate material. The reactant gases may be pre-mixed with an inert gas in order to keep the overall gas mixture composition low in volume percent of carbon and rich in hydrogen. Pre-treatment of the reactant gases to a high energy state is not required as it is in most prior art processes for chemical vapor deposition of diamond. Since pre-treatment is not required, the process may be applied to substrates of virtually any desired size, shape or configuration.The reactant gas mixture preferably is passed through a reactor, a first portion of which is heated to a temperature of from about 400.degree. C. to about 920.degree. C. and more preferably from about 800.degree. C. to about 920.degree. C.