Electron Emission and Raman Investigation of Hydrogenated Diamond Like Carbon Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition

The structure and the electron-field emission behavior of hydrogenated diamond-like carbon prepared by pulsed laser deposition are investigated. The diamond-like carbon films contain a mixture of sp3-bonds and sp2-bonds, possessing a large electron-field-emission current density [Je=368 mu A/square centimeter at 14V/micrometer], a low turn-on field [E(sub 0)=6V/micrometer] and a low effective work function[ phi e=0.0399eV]. The superior electron-field-emission properties of DLC films, as compared with those of diamonds, are ascribed to their nanostructured grains and surface groups such as C-H, which can produce large changes in electron affinity. From Raman spectra, the DLC films possess a diffused D-band resonance peak at 1350 per centimeter and a diffused G-band resonance peak near 1580 per centimeter. Breit-Wigner-Fano and Lorentzian line shape simulations are used to fit the spectra. After the emission, the Raman peak position is shifted due to the presence of nanostructure.