Preparation of Diamond-Like Carbon Films in Methane by Electron Cyclotron Resonance Microwave Plasma Source Ion Implantation

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were prepared on Si (100) substrates by ion implantation from an electron cyclotron resonance microwave plasma source. During the implantation, 650 W microwave power was used to produce discharge plasma with methane as working gas, and -20 kV voltage pulses were applied to the substrate holder to accelerate ions in the plasma. Confocal Raman spectra confirmed the DLC characteristics of the films. Fourier-transform infrared characterization indicates that the DLC films were composed of sp³ and sp² carbon-bonded hydrogen. The hardness of the films was evaluated with a Nano Indenter-XP System. The result shows that the highest hardness value was 14.6 GPa. The surface rms roughness of the films was as low as 0.104 nm measured with an atomic force microscope. The friction coefficient of the films was checked using a ball-on-disk microtribometer. The average friction coefficient is approximately 0.122.