Synthesis of tin-incorporated nanocomposite diamond like carbon films by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and their characterization

Sn-incorporated nanocomposite diamond like carbon (DLC) films were synthesized using direct current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. The precursor gas used was acetylene. For Sn incorporation, SnCl2∙2H2O dissolved in methanol was used. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy measurements showed different vibrational modes of tetrahedrally bonded carbon and also some small peaks due to SnC bonding vibrations. Transmission electron microscopy image and electron diffraction patterns also confirmed the incorporation of nanocrystalline Sn particles into the amorphous DLC matrix. Due to the presence of Sn clusters, the Tauc gap of the films decreased sharply, compared to the intrinsic material. It was found that the resistivity of Sn-incorporated DLC films decreased drastically (by eight orders of magnitude) compared to the undoped DLC film. Also, the films exhibited good field emission properties at a lower turn-on field.