The effects of Si incorporation on the electrochemical and nanomechanical properties of DLC thin films

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Abstract

Silicon-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC) films with a Si content of up to 20.2 at.% were grown on Al2O3-TiC substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition. The influence of Si addition on the bonding structure, nanomechanical and corrosion behaviour of the DLC films was investigated by Raman and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy,nano-indentation, potentiodynamic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Silicon addition promoted the formation of sp(3) bonding and reduced the hardness. The deterioration of the nanomechanical properties is related to the increased hydrogen contentin the films, leading to the formation of a polymeric sp(3) CHn structure. The high hydrogen concentration in the Si-containing DLC samples was established by the increased Raman background slope. The EIS were analysed within the context of an equivalent circuit, whichincorporated two time constants representing the DLC coating and the solution/Al2O3-TiC interface, Introduction of Si in the DLC led to significant improvements in the corrosion resistance of DLC, as revealed by increase in the charge transfer resistance and reduction in the anodic current of the polarisation curves. Films with a thickness of 20 nm remained intact after the polarisation scan when the Si concentration was increased above 11.8 at.%. The improvements in corrosion resistance are related to the formation of a passivationlayer, which fills the pores present in the films. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1074-1080
JournalDiamond and Related Materials
Volume11
Issue number3-6, S
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - Mar 2002

Bibliographical note

12th European Conference on Diamond Diamond-Like Materials Carbon Nanotubes Nitrides and Silicon Carbide (Diamond 2001), BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, SEP 02-07, 2001

Keywords

  • electrochemical impedance
  • pinholes
  • Raman spectroscopy
  • hardness
  • corrosion
  • Si-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC)

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