Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon Films from Palmyra Sugar

Abstract

A simple, highly reproducible, and environmentally friendly method is a considered approach in generating renewable energy materials. Here, hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C) films have been successfully prepared from palmyra liquid sugar, employing spin-coating and spraying methods. Compared with the former method, the latter shows a significance in producing a better homogeneity in particle size and film thickness. The obtained films have a thickness of approximately 1000 to 100 nm and contain an sp2 hexagonal structure (~70%) and sp3 tetrahedral configuration (~30%) of carbons. The introduction of boron (B) and nitrogen (N) as dopants has created the local structural modification of bonding, inducing a slight change of electrical conductivity, electronic energy bandgap, and optical transparency near-infrared region. The obtained a-C film features a “green” semiconducting material.