DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON: A NEW MATERIAL BASE FOR NANO-ARCHITECTURES

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is a form of amorphous carbon which has high fraction of sp3 hybridization. Due to its nature of sp3 bonding, diamond-like carbon has been shown to have excellent properties similar to that of diamond. This includes high hardness, excellent wear-resistance, large modulus and chemically inert. Traditional applications include wear resistant coatings and protective film. This article intends to review the synthesis and material properties of diamond-like carbon as well as its potential as a novel material for applications in nano-architecture and nano-mechanical devices. An introduction into metal-dopants in diamond-like carbon film will be briefly mentioned as well as techniques on the design and fabrication of this material.