Electrodeposition mechanism of hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon films from organic electrolytes

A brief introduction on the development of electrodeposition of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films was given, and our experiments were done, emphasizing on how to deposit hydrogen-free DLC films. Methanol, acetonitrile and N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) were chosen as electrolytes, while Si and conductive glass were used as substrates. The sample deposited on Si through methanol was the only one in this comparative research that produced hydrogen-free DLC film as it was indicated by the FTIR spectroscopy. Two explanations, based on reaction mechanism, were proposed to explain this fact. It was believed that the reaction rate and the effect of hydroxyl groups in the molecules of the electrolytes played important roles in the deposition of hydrogen-free DLC films.