Electrically conducting ion tracks in diamond-like carbon films for field emission

Electrically conducting channels in an insulating carbon matrix were produc ed by 140-MeV Xe ion irradiation. The high local energy deposition of the i ndividual ions along their pathes causes a rearrangement of the carbon atom s and leads to a transformation of the insulating, diamond-like (sp(3)-bond ing) form of carbon into the conducting, graphitic (sp(2)-bonding) configur ation. The conducting ion tracks are clearly seen in the current mapping pe rformed with an atomic force microscope (AFM). These conducting tracks are of possible use in field emission applications.