Substrate Effect on the Diamond-Like Carbon Films Synthesized by RF Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition

Abstract

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were synthesized by RF plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using methane as carbon source. Effect of substrate on the growth of DLC films was investigated by using four different substrate materials, silicon wafer (100), glass, flat-polished and mirror-polished alumina. The carbon films were deposited at four different self-bias voltages (-157 V, -403 V, -500 V and -590 V) by changing the plasma power under fixed flow rate and working pressure. Raman analyses indicated that DLC films were deposited on silicon and glass substrates at the self-bias -403 V ~ -590 V, and polymer-like carbon films were obtained at -157 V. For the alumina substrates, different Raman results were observed for flat-polished and mirror-polished alumina substrates. The hardness of DLC films, deposited on silicon and glass substrates at the self-bias -403 V ~ -590 V, was within 16~20 GPa using nanoindentation technique.