Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
We have designed and constructed a large area ion beam apparatus to deposit DLC films onto 1000 cm2 surfaces with various geometries. The use of an efficient RF excited ion gun (13.56 MHz, 1 kW power, 50-3000 eV ion energy) with a diameter of 20 cm, enables us to generate various hydrocarbon ions with high ion beam currents, varying ionic species and less maintenance. The use of a four axis (Χ-ϒ-Θϒ-ΘZ) substrate scanner with computer control can produce uniform DLC films on large areas and curved surfaces. The effects of RF power, ion energy, gaseous composition, and total pressure on the properties of DLC have been systematically investigated.