TY - JOUR
T1 - Synthesis and characterization of single-wall carbon nanotube-amorphous diamond thin-film composites
AU - Schittenhelm, H.
AU - Geohegan, D. B.
AU - Jellison, G. E.
AU - Puretzky, A. A.
AU - Lance, M. J.
AU - Britt, P. F.
PY - 2002/9/9
Y1 - 2002/9/9
N2 - Thin-film single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) composites synthesized by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) are reported. Ultrahard, transparent, pure-carbon, electrically insulating, amorphous diamond thin films were deposited by PLD as scratch-resistant, encapsulating matrices for disperse, electrically conductive mats of SWNT bundles. In situ resistance measurements of the mats during PLD, as well as ex situ Raman spectroscopy, current-voltage measurements, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy, are used to understand the interaction between the SWNT and the highly energetic (∼100 eV) carbon species responsible for the formation of the amorphous diamond thin film. The results indicate that a large fraction of SWNT within the bundles survive the energetic bombardment from the PLD plume, preserving the metallic behavior of the interconnected nanotube mat, although with higher resistance. Amorphous diamond film thicknesses of only 50 nm protect the SWNT against wear, providing scratch hardness up to 25 GPa in an optically transmissive, all-carbon thin-film composite.
AB - Thin-film single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) composites synthesized by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) are reported. Ultrahard, transparent, pure-carbon, electrically insulating, amorphous diamond thin films were deposited by PLD as scratch-resistant, encapsulating matrices for disperse, electrically conductive mats of SWNT bundles. In situ resistance measurements of the mats during PLD, as well as ex situ Raman spectroscopy, current-voltage measurements, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy, are used to understand the interaction between the SWNT and the highly energetic (∼100 eV) carbon species responsible for the formation of the amorphous diamond thin film. The results indicate that a large fraction of SWNT within the bundles survive the energetic bombardment from the PLD plume, preserving the metallic behavior of the interconnected nanotube mat, although with higher resistance. Amorphous diamond film thicknesses of only 50 nm protect the SWNT against wear, providing scratch hardness up to 25 GPa in an optically transmissive, all-carbon thin-film composite.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79956040789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1063/1.1506947
DO - 10.1063/1.1506947
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79956040789
SN - 0003-6951
VL - 81
SP - 2097
EP - 2099
JO - Applied Physics Letters
JF - Applied Physics Letters
IS - 11
ER -