Surface morphology, conductivity, and field emission properties of boron-doped polycrystalline diamond film have been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy, current imaging tunneling spectroscopy, and separation-voltage (S–V) spectroscopy focusing on the properties within a single grain. The emission properties show significant spatial variations within single grains at the nanometer level. S–V spectroscopy provided direct values of the field required for the emission from nanometer-sized structures at the surface. Strong correlation between surface conductivity and low-field emission has been found. The results suggest that the emission properties of the film on the nanometer level are determined by local hydrogen termination.

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