Observation of diamond crystallites in thin films prepared by laser ablation of hard fullerene-based carbon

Abstract

Thin carbon films have been prepared by ArF excimer laser ablation of hard fullerene-based carbon in vacuum. The target material was obtained from a pressure - temperature treatment of fullerene. Micro-Raman, electron energy loss and electron diffraction measurements of deposited films reveal distinct evidence of microcrystalline diamond. Appearance of the diamond fraction in the films can be related to a peculiar structure of the target substance.