The infrared characteristics investigation of carbon nitride films

• Published in: Diamond and related materials 2008-02, Vol.17 (2), p.174-179
• Main Authors: Wang, Chengbing, Yang, Shengrong, Zhang, Junyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon nitride films; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electron states and collective excitations in thin films, multilayers, quantum wells, mesoscopic and nanoscale systems; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Infrared spectra; Materials science; Physics; Raman spectra; Specific materials
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2007.11.013

Two series of a-C(N):H films, with diamond-like character and graphite-like character respectively, are prepared. Without N incorporation, the two kinds of films have very close IR bands in the range of 1000–1800 cm − 1 . However, the difference in IR activity of the two series films became dramatical as N was introduced into both kinds of carbon films, which is attributed to purely electronic effect, the electronegativity of N. The N incorporated in carbon films is able to induce bond dipole of C C bonds in sp 2 graphite cluster, leading to a degree of dipoles for all the aromatic sp 2 C C bonds, a permanent electric dipole effect arises and this could lead to the increase in IR activity of the sp 2 clusters. As the N content exceeds 20 at.% in the carbon films, strong conjugation of C≡N bonds with aromatic graphite rings can induce conjugated π bond dipole too.