Low voltage and ambient temperature electrodeposition of uniform carbon films

• DLC films were obtained from the chloroacetic acid aqueous solution.
• The voltage applied for the electrodeposition was 3.0 V at ambient temperature.
• The films were composed of small, compact grains and seem to be uniform and smooth.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are prepared by electrodeposition technique on SnO2-coated glass substrates in chloroacetic acid aqueous solution. The applied voltage between the electrodes is mere 3.0 V for 2 h. The films composed of small and compact grains that show two distinct Raman characteristic peaks at ~ 1340 and ~ 1580 cm− 1. With the method reported in this paper, the DLC films are firstly fabricated the DLC films at both low voltage and ambient temperature.