Highly radiation-stable DLC coatings for a new class of detectors: Structural and morphological features

• Published in: Vacuum 2024-07, Vol.225, p.113221, Article 113221
• Main Authors: Serra, Antonio, Caricato, Anna Paola, Manno, Daniela, Buccolieri, Alessandro, Carbone, Giorgio G., Quarta, Gianluca, Calcagnile, Lucio, Martino, Maurizio, Rizwan Aziz, M., Pellecchia, Antonello, Verwilligen, Piet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0042-207X; 1879-2715
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2024.113221

Within the framework of the FTM-NEXT INFN (Fast Time Micropattern gaseous detectors - next of Nuclear Physics National Institute) experiment, we produced hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon films through pulsed-laser deposition to serve as resistive layers in modern resistive micro-pattern gaseous detectors that must work in extreme radiation environments at future colliders. To obtain homogeneous diamond-like carbon coatings, over medium-to-large size (3 cm × 3 cm), with excellent adhesion to the substrate and with typical surface resistivity values in the range of 1–100 MOhm/sq, growth conditions had to be optimized. In this paper we report on the stability of resistive diamond-like carbon layers subjected to increasing doses of irradiation with proton beams accelerated to an energy of 2 MeV. The morphological, structural, and electrical properties, also at the nanoscale level, of diamond-like carbon coatings following ion irradiation were studied by electron microscopy, electron diffraction, electrical transport characterization and scanning tunneling spectroscopy. •PLD-optimized deposition resulted in uniform DLC coatings with strong adhesion and surface resistivity between 1 and 100 MOhm/sqm.•DLC layers were tested for stability when exposed to a 2 MeV proton beam at increasing radiation doses.•Advanced techniques such as TEM, electric transport and STM were used to analyze the stability of DLC coatings.