Deposition of Diamond-Like Carbon Films using Plasma Based Ion Implantation with Bipolar Pulses

Plasma based ion implantation (PBII) with bipolar high voltage pulses has been proposed to improve a dose uniformity in an ion implantation on a three-dimensional target. A pulsed glow discharge plasma is produced around the target by a positive high-voltage pulse, and then ions are implanted into the target from all sides by the subsequent negative high-voltage pulse. A time resolved plasma density and the spatial profiles of the pulsed glow discharge plasma are measured by a Langmuir probe in a boxcar mode, and diamond like carbon (DLC) films are deposited under optimal conditions of the pulsed plasma. It is shown that the PBII with bipolar pulses is a useful method in depositing DLC films on the three-dimensional target. A carbon ion implantation procedure results in the enhanced adherence of DLC coating to the target, and the enhanced adhesion is due to a graded carbon interface produced by carbon implantation.