• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.808-811
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• 2008

Optical and mechanical properties of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films synthesized by RF plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition were investigated as a function the C/H ratio in gas mixture. The C/H ratio was varied from 6 to 10 %, adjusting the amount of $CH_4$ and $H_2$ as the source gas. The optical and mechanical properties of DLC films were characterized by UV spectrometer, Ellipsometer and Nano-indenter. The change of the C/H ratio during synthesis of DLC films had many effects on the growth rate, transmittance, refractive index and hardness. The growth rate of the films increased exponentially with the increase in C/H ratio. The hardness of the films showed the tendency to improve with increasing C/H ratio, whereas the transmittance decreased. The refractive index was varied from 2.03 to 2.17, and these refractive indexes close to 2.0 indicates that it can be applied to Si-based solar cell.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.308-313
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• 2011

In this study, friction tests were performed in order to investigate the effect of sliding velocity and normal load on the friction characteristics of DLC (a-C:H) and WC/C (a-C:H:W) using a ball-on-disk type friction tester. DLC and WC/C were deposited on AISI 52100 steel balls. Friction tests against carburized SCM 415 Cr-Mo steel disks were carried out under various sliding velocity (0.1, 0.78, 1.56, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mm/s) and normal load (2.4, 4.8 and 9.6 N) conditions while the relative humidity was 20~40 % R.H. and air temperature was $16{\sim}24^{\circ}C$. As results, kinetic friction coefficients of DLC and WC/C were obtained under each test condition. The results show that the kinetic friction coefficients of DLC and WC/C generally increase with the increase in sliding velocity. And, under the same sliding velocity condition, the kinetic friction coefficients are almost constant regardless of normal load. In addition, the kinetic friction coefficients of DLC are lower than those of WC/C under the same test conditions.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.1265-1266
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• 2007

Electro-deposition of carbon film on silicon substrate in methanol solution was carried out with various current density, solution temperature and electrode spacing between anode and cathode. The carbon films with smooth surface morphology and high electrical resistance were formed when the distance between electrode was relatively wider. The electrical resistance of the carbon films were independent of both current density and solution temperature.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.3-4
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• 2000

Many researchers are interested in the synthesis and characterization of carbon nitride and diamond-like carbon (DLq because they show excellent mechanical properties such as low friction and high wear resistance and excellent electrical properties such as controllable electical resistivity and good field electron emission. We have deposited amorphous carbon nitride (a-C:N) thin films and DLC thin films by shielded arc ion plating (SAIP) and evaluated the structural and tribological properties. The application of appropriate negative bias on substrates is effective to increase the film hardness and wear resistance. This paper reports on the deposition and tribological OLC films in relation to the substrate bias voltage (Vs). films are compared with those of the OLC films. A high purity sintered graphite target was mounted on a cathode as a carbon source. Nitrogen or argon was introduced into a deposition chamber through each mass flow controller. After the initiation of an arc plasma at 60 A and 1 Pa, the target surface was heated and evaporated by the plasma. Carbon atoms and clusters evaporated from the target were ionized partially and reacted with activated nitrogen species, and a carbon nitride film was deposited onto a Si (100) substrate when we used nitrogen as a reactant gas. The surface of the growing film also reacted with activated nitrogen species. Carbon macropartic1es (0.1 -100 maicro-m) evaporated from the target at the same time were not ionized and did not react fully with nitrogen species. These macroparticles interfered with the formation of the carbon nitride film. Therefore we set a shielding plate made of stainless steel between the target and the substrate to trap the macropartic1es. This shielding method is very effective to prepare smooth a-CN films. We, therefore, call this method "shielded arc ion plating (SAIP)". For the deposition of DLC films we used argon instead of nitrogen. Films of about 150 nm in thickness were deposited onto Si substrates. Their structures, chemical compositions and chemical bonding states were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Hardness of the films was measured with a nanointender interfaced with an atomic force microscope (AFM). A Berkovich-type diamond tip whose radius was less than 100 nm was used for the measurement. A force-displacement curve of each film was measured at a peak load force of 250 maicro-N. Load, hold and unload times for each indentation were 2.5, 0 and 2.5 s, respectively. Hardness of each film was determined from five force-displacement curves. Wear resistance of the films was analyzed as follows. First, each film surface was scanned with the diamond tip at a constant load force of 20 maicro-N. The tip scanning was repeated 30 times in a 1 urn-square region with 512 lines at a scanning rate of 2 um/ s. After this tip-scanning, the film surface was observed in the AFM mode at a constant force of 5 maicro-N with the same Berkovich-type tip. The hardness of a-CN films was less dependent on Vs. The hardness of the film deposited at Vs=O V in a nitrogen plasma was about 10 GPa and almost similar to that of Si. It slightly increased to 12 - 15 GPa when a bias voltage of -100 - -500 V was applied to the substrate with showing its maximum at Vs=-300 V. The film deposited at Vs=O V was least wear resistant which was consistent with its lowest hardness. The biased films became more wear resistant. Particularly the film deposited at Vs=-300 V showed remarkable wear resistance. Its wear depth was too shallow to be measured with AFM. On the other hand, the DLC film, deposited at Vs=-l00 V in an argon plasma, whose hardness was 35 GPa was obviously worn under the same wear test conditions. The a-C:N films show higher wear resistance than DLC films and are useful for wear resistant coatings on various mechanical and electronic parts.nic parts.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07c
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• pp.1446-1449
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• 1996

Thin films of diamond-like carbon(DLC) have been deposited using a magnetron plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition(PECVD) method with an rf(13.56 MHz) plasma of $C_{3}H_{8}$. From the Langmuir probe I-V characteristics, it can be observed that increasing the magnetic field yields an increase of the temperature($T_e$) and density($N_e$) of electron. At a magnetic field of 82 Gauss, the estimated values of $T_e$ and $N_e$ are approximately $1.5\;{\times}\;10^5$ K(13.5 eV) and $1.3\;{\times}\;10^{11}\;cm^{-3}$, respectively. Such a highly dense plasma can be attributed to the enhanced ionization caused by the cyclotron motion of electrons in the presence of a magnetic field. On the other hand, the negative dc self-bias voltage($-V_{sb}$) decreases with an increasing magnetic field, which is irrespective of gas pressure in the range of $1{\sim}7$ mTorr. This result is well explained by a theoretical model considering the variation of $T_e$. Deposition rates of DLC films increases with a magnetic field. This may be due to the increased mean free path of electrons in the magnetron plasma. Structures of DLC films are examined by using various techniques such as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Most of hydrocarbon bonds in DLC films prepared consist of $sp^3$ tetrahedral bonds. Increasing the rf power leads to an enhancement of cross-linking of carbon atoms in DLC films. At approximately 140 W, the maximum film density obtained is about 2.4 $g/cm^3$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.88-88
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• 2018

DLC(Diamond Like Carbon) 박막은 높은 열전도도, 큰 전기저항, 높은 강도 등의 다이아몬드와 유사한 특성을 가지고 있으면서 저온 저압에서도 합성이 가능하고, 합성 조건에 따라 물리 화학적 특성도 넓게 조절 할 수 있으며 상대적으로 넓은 면적에서 균일하고 평활한 박막의 합성이 가능하여 산업적 응용 면에서도 경쟁력을 갖추고 있다[1]. 이러한 DLC 박막을 합성함에 있어서 RF-PECVD(Radio Frequency Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) 방법은 PECVD 방법 중 가장 보편적으로 사용되고 또 캐패시터 타입의 RF-PECVD 방법은 균일한 대면적 증착과 대량생산이 가능하다[1,2]. 본 연구에서는 우수한 특성을 갖는 DLC 박막의 증착 조건을 찾기 위해 캐패시터 타입의 RF-PECVD를 사용하여 공정 가스의 유량과 RF Power를 변화하여 박막을 증착하고, 증착된 박막의 특성을 연구하였다. DLC 박막은 ITO(Indium Tin Oxide) 유리 기판 위에 $100^{\circ}C$에서 5 min 동안 아세틸렌($C_2H_2$) 가스를 사용하여 가스 유량과 RF Power를 변화하여 증착하였다. 증착된 DLC 박막의 특성은 투과도, 평탄도, 두께를 측정하여 비교하였다. 가시광선 영역(380-780 nm)에서 투과도를 측정한 결과 ITO 유리 기판을 기준으로 한 DLC 박막의 투과도는 가시광선 영역 평균 94.8~98.8% 사이의 값으로 매우 높은 투과율을 나타내었다. 투과도는 가스 유량이 증가함에 따라 증가하는 경향을 나타내었고, RF Power의 변화에는 특정한 변화를 나타내지 않았다. 박막의 평탄도($R_a$, $R_{rms}$)와 두께는 AFM(Atomic Force Microscope)을 사용하여 측정하였다. 평탄도 $R_{rms}$는 0.8~3.3 nm, $R_a$는 0.6~2.5 nm 사이를 나타내었고 RF Power와 가스 유량의 변화에 따른 경향성을 나타내지는 않았다. 두께는 RF Power 25 W에서 55 W로 증가함에 따라 증가하는 경향을 나타내었으나 70W에서는 가스의 유량에 따라 상이한 결과를 나타내었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2002.10b
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• pp.147-148
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• 2002

This study made use of four kinds of mating balls that were made with stainless steel but subjected to different annealing conditions in order to achieve different levels of hardness. In all load conditions, testing results demonstrated that the harder the mating materials, the lower the friction coefficient was. Conversely, the high friction coefficient found in soft martensite balls appeared to be caused by the larger contact area between the DLC film and the ball. Raman Spectra analysis showed that the transferred materials were a kind of graphite and that the contact surface of the DLC film seemed to undergo a phase transition from carbon to graphite during the high friction process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.791-794
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• 2003

DLC thin films were prepared by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method on silicon substrates using methane ($CH_4$) and hydrogen ($H_2$) gas mixture. The negative DC bias ($-450V{\sim}-550V$) was applied to enhance the adhesion between the film and the substrate. The films were characterized by Raman spectrometer. The surface morphology was observed by an atomic force microscope (AFM). And also, the friction coefficients were investigated by AFM in friction force microscope (FFM) mode, which were compared with the pin-on-disc (POD) measurement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.842-845
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• 2003

DLC thin films were prepared by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method on silicon substrates using methane ($CH_4$) and hydrogen ($H_2$) gas mixture. The negative DC bias ($-450V{\sim}-550V$) was applied to enhance the adhesion between the film and the substrate. The films were characterized by Raman spectrometer. The surface morphology was observed by an atomic force microscope (AFM). And also, the friction coefficients were investigated by AFM in friction force microscope (FFM) mode, which were compared with the pin-on-disc (POD) measurement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.214-214
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• 2013

Diamond like carbon(DLC) 박막은 고경도, 저마찰, 내스크래치 특성을 요구하는 표면기술 응용분야에 널리 사용되며, 대면적 저가 코팅 방법 개발 및 물성 조절 기술이 요구된다. 본 연구에서는 Filtered Vacuum Arc (FVA)를 통해 증착되는 Hydrogen-free DLC 박막의 밀착력 제어를 위한 증착시 기판 전압에 따른 증착 및 밀착력 특성을 분석하였다. 기판전압이 0~-150 V 까지 변화함에 따른 스크래치 테스트 결과를 통해 최적 증착 조건을 도출하였다.