Title: Self-assembled Ni nanoclusters in a diamond-like carbon matrix

Authors: Edwin Hang Tong Teo, Ping Zhang, Beng Kang Tay, Daniel Hock Chuan Chua

Addresses: School of EEE Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Ave, 639798 Singapore. ' School of EEE Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Ave, 639798 Singapore. ' School of EEE Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Ave, 639798 Singapore. ' Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117576 Singapore

Abstract: Trace amounts (∼5 at%) of metal-containing diamond-like carbon films (DLC) have been deposited using a Off Plane Double Bend Filtered Cathodic Vacuum Arc (OPDB-FCVA) system. The films prepared this way resulted in amorphous thin films where the metal atoms are randomly mixed in a DLC matrix. These films are sometimes called carbon composites. In this paper, the observation of self-assembled Ni nanoclusters by high resolution TEM in a DLC matrix is reported. This phenomenon has only been observed in Ni and not in other metals such as Al, W etc. These Ni nanoclusters have a diameter of ∼2 nm and XRD measurements confirms a (111) orientation while XPS shows that no carbide formation occurs between Ni and DLC.

Keywords: diamond-like carbon; nanoclusters; self-assembly; nickel; amorphous thin films; nanotechnology; carbon composites.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2007.013976

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2007 Vol.4 No.4, pp.424 - 430

Published online: 05 Jun 2007 *

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