Electronic Structure and Chemical Bonding of Amorphous Chromium Carbide Thin Films

TL;DR

This study investigates the microstructure, electronic structure, and chemical bonding of amorphous chromium carbide thin films with varying carbon content, revealing complex nanocomposite structures and bonding characteristics.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the amorphous microstructure and bonding of chromium carbide films with different carbon levels, including the formation of graphene-like structures.

Findings

Most films are amorphous nanocomposites with non-crystalline CrCx

Graphene-like structures form at high carbon contents

Complex microstructure with nanocrystallites at 47 at% carbon

Abstract

The microstructure, electronic structure, and chemical bonding of chromium carbide thin films with different carbon contents have been investigated with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and soft x-ray absorption-emission spectroscopies. Most of the films can be described as amorphous nanocomposites with non-crystalline CrCx in an amorphous carbon matrix. At high carbon contents, graphene-like structures are formed in the amorphous carbon matrix. At 47 at% carbon content, randomly oriented nanocrystallites are formed creating a complex microstructure of three components. The soft x-ray absorption-emission study shows additional peak structures exhibiting non-octahedral coordination and bonding.