PROPERTIES OF DIAMOND-LIKE FILMS OBTAINED IN A BARRIER DISCHARGE AT ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE

Diamondlike films are synthesized from gaseous hydrocarbons in a barri er discharge at atmospheric pressure. The films were investigated usin g transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. A technique for determining the quantitative characteri stics of the films (hydrogen content, ratio of different types of carb on-carbon bonds and hydrocarbon groups) using standard samples is desc ribed. The highest-quality films were obtained from methane (ratio of hydrogen to carbon atom HC = 1.04, fraction of diamondlike to graphite like bonds sp(3):sp(2) = 100% :0%) and from a mixture of acetylene and hydrogen in the ratio 1:19 (H/C = 0.73, sp(3) :sp(2) = 68%:32%). (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.