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The Effects of Substrate Conditions on the Microstructural Evolution of Thin Diamond-Like Films
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Abstract
We report on a study of hard amorphous carbon thin films prepared by condensing streams of energetic carbon species, onto a range of substrates maintained at different temperatures. The carbon vapor is generated either by ion sputtering, laser ablation or e-beam evaporation. Spatially resolved electron-energy-loss spectra reveal variations in the films′ microstructure brought about by altering the deposition conditions. We estimate that the density of the different films varies between 2.0 and 3.26 g/cm3. We observe an evolution towards denser films upon increasing incident beam energy, reducing substrate temperature, and increasing substrate thermal conductivity. Low density films contain a predominance of trigonally bonded sp2-hybridized carbon (i.e graphitic carbon) and the highest density films contain a high fraction (∽ 80%) of tetr-ahedral sp3-bonded carbon (i.e. diamond-like).
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991
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