Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

"Thin carbon films including sputtered deposited graphite and CO₂ laser-assisted combustion-flame deposited graphite and diamond thin films were characterized using optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Amorphous carbon thin films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering using Ar/O₂ gases. The film morphology changed with the oxygen content. The deposition rate decreased as the amount of oxygen increased due to oxygen reacting with the growing film. The use of oxygen in the working gas enhanced the crystalline nature of the films. Graphite was deposited on WC substrates by a CO₂ laser-assisted O₂/C₂H₂ combustion-flame method. Two distinct microstructural areas were observed; an inner core of dense material surrounded by an outer shell of lamellar-like material. The deposits were crystalline regardless of the laser power and deposition times of a few minutes. Diamond films were deposited by a CO₂ laser-assisted O₂/C₂H₂/C₂H₄ combustion-flame method with the laser focused parallel to the substrate surface. The laser enhanced diamond growth was most pronounced when deposited with a 10.532 μm CO₂ laser wavelength tuned to the CH₂-wagging vibrational mode of the C₂H₄ molecule. Nucleation of diamond thin films deposited with and without using a CO₂ laser-assisted combustion-flame process was investigated. With no laser there was nucleation of a sub-layer of grains followed by irregular grain growth. An untuned laser wavelength yielded nucleation of a sub-layer then columnar grain growth. The 10.532 μm tuned laser wavelength caused growth of columnar grains"--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

OKeefe, Matt

Committee Member(s)

Tsai, Hai-Lung
Huebner, Wayne
Miller, F. Scott, 1956-
Brow, Richard K.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Metallurgical Engineering

Sponsor(s)

United States. Office of Naval Research

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Fall 2010

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

  • Reactive sputter-deposition of oxygenated amorphous carbon thin films in Ar/O₂
  • Characterization of ultra-fast deposited polycrystalline graphite by a CO₂ laser-assisted combustion-flame method
  • Characterization of diamond thin films deposited by a CO₂ laser-assisted combustion-flame method
  • Nucleation and growth of diamond thin films deposited by a CO₂ laser-assisted combustion-flame method

Pagination

xii, 178 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references.

Rights

© 2010 Travis Kyle McKindra, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Carbon
Diamond thin films
Electron microscopy
Raman spectroscopy
Thin films

Thesis Number

T 9705

Print OCLC #

747571407

Electronic OCLC #

747584600

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Metallurgy Commons

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