Synthesis and characterization of some carbon based nanostructures

Carbon thin films were synthesized using the original Thermionic Vacuum Arc (TVA) method. Mechanical properties were investigated using Micro Materials NanoTest 500 instrument using a NT Berkovich indenter. XPS provides a quantitative analysis of the surface composition and X-ray generated Auger electron spectroscopy (XAES) performed by Thermoelectron ESCALAB 250 revealed information about the sp3:sp2 ratio of the carbon bondings. Structure and morphology was studied by Transmission Electron Microscope CM120ST, providing information on the grain size distribution of the crystalline diamond structures. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.