Growth and properties of hydrogen-free DLC films deposited by surface-wave-sustained plasma

Hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited by a new surface-wave-sustained plasma physical vapor deposition (SWP-PVD) system in various conditions. Electron density was measured by a Langmuir probe; the film thickness and hardness were characterized using a surface profilometer and a nanoindenter, respectively. Surface morphology was investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM). It is found that the electron density and deposition rate increase following the increase in microwave power, target voltage, or gas pressure. The typical electron density and deposition rate are about 1.87 × 1011–2.04 × 1012 cm− 3 and 1.61–14.32 nm/min respectively. AFM images indicate that the grain sizes of the films change as the experimental parameters vary. The optical constants, refractive index n and extinction coefficient k, were obtained using an optical ellipsometry. With the increase in microwave power from 150 to 270 W, the extinction coefficient of DLC films increases from 0.05 to 0.27 while the refractive index decreases from 2.31 to 2.11.