Optical and mechanical characterization of zirconia-carbon nanocomposite films

Besides the zirconia phase and crystalline parameter changes induced by carbon addition, the electronic properties to the films were significantly modified: a drastical optical gap lowering was observed along an increased electronic dielectric constant and refractive index. The invariance of the film elasticity modulus and the similarity of the optical transition lifetime values with those of pure amorphous carbon films indicate an immiscibility of the ceramic and carbon components of the film structure.