Structural properties of polymer-like amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films grown
in a dual-plasma (microwave (MW) assisted radio frequency (RF)) reactor hav
e been investigated. An interesting transition appears as the film density
increases due to increasing ion energy: (1) in situ infrared ellipsometry s
hows a transition in the C-H bonding modes corresponding to carbon skeleton
cross-linking, (2) a quenching of the photoluminescence (PL) efficiency is
observed when film density is >1.3 g cm(-3). To analyze the origin of such
an evolution, X-ray diffraction investigations have been perfonned on a-C:
H powders with densities increasing from 0.9 to 1.7 g cm(-3). This paper re
ports on X-ray measurements performed in transmission geometry using the hi
gh photon flux at LURE facilities. The data show differences between the sa
mples in the structure factor, S(K), and in the pair correlation function,
G(r). X-ray spectra have prepeaks in the vicinity of 1 Angstrom(-1), which
change in position and shape with the density of the powders. The contracti
on of the first distances, C-C, is observed as the density increases, from
0.152 +/- 0.002 nm for transparent and soft films to 0.142 +/- 0.002 nm for
the denser one. The evolution of C-skeleton structure is described in term
s of local co-ordination, in relation with the C-H bonding. (C) 2000 Publis
hed by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.