Surface characterization and nanomechanical properties of diamond-like carbon films synthesized by RF plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were synthesized by RF plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using acetylene as the carbon source and the effects of acetylene/nitrogen ratio in the reaction atmosphere, deposition pressure, and plasma post-treatment using different atmospheres on the surface roughness and mechanical properties of DLC films were investigated. Although the surface roughness, characterized by AFM, decreased as the acetylene/nitrogen ratio in the reaction atmosphere decreased, the hardness of DLC films measured by nanoindentation also decreased with the decrease of the acetylene/nitrogen ratio, which is consistent with the Raman results of the ID/IG ratio. Rougher films with higher residual stress were obtained when using a deposition pressure higher than 40.0 Pa (0.3 torr). For the effect of plasma post-treatment using different atmospheres, surface smoothing was found for the hydrogen plasma post-treatment, whereas nitrogen and argon plasma post-treatments resulted in surface roughening. Hydrogen plasma post-treatment was found to lower the surface roughness without significantly sacrificing the hardness.