TiCx films with a wide range of C/Ti ratios have been prepared by plasma ba
sed ion implantation. The bonding states and structure were investigated as
functions of the relative carbon content to titanium. The results of Ruthe
rford backscattering spectroscopy showed that there was more than 20 at.% h
ydrogen contained in the films. By the deconvolution of X-ray photoelectron
core level spectra, the excess carbon was suggested to lead to the formati
on of interstitial carbon, amorphous hydrogenated carbon (or graphite), pol
ymer-like carbon, and organic compound of titanium. The cross-sectional tra
nsmission electron microscopy (XTEM) displayed that the TiC0.81 films mainl
y consisted of rod-shaped TiC crystal arranged along the growth direction,
while the TiC1.55 films contained a relatively random microstructure. XTEM
also provided evidence for the existence of amorphous carbon in carbon-rich
films, not graphite. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.