Cluster Beam Deposition and in situ Characterization of Carbyne-rich Carbon Films

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the production and in situ characterization of stable, carbyne-rich carbon films via cluster beam deposition, revealing distinct sp2 and sp configurations with potential applications in astrophysics and novel carbon materials.

Contribution

It introduces a method to produce stable, carbyne-rich carbon films and characterizes their in situ Raman spectra, confirming theoretical predictions.

Findings

Stable carbyne-rich films were produced and characterized.

Distinct Raman signatures of polyyne and cumulene species were observed.

The films showed different stability behaviors under various gas exposures.

Abstract

Nanostructured carbon films produced by supersonic cluster beam deposition have been studied by in situ Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra show the formation of a sp2 solid with a very large fraction of sp-coordinated carbyne species showing a long-term stability under ultra high vacuum. Distinct Raman contribution from polyyne and cumulene species have been observed. The long-term stability and the behavior of carbyne-rich films under different gas exposure have been characterized showing different evolution for different sp configurations. Our experiments confirm theoretical predictions and demonstrate the possibility of easily producing a stable carbyne-rich pure carbon solid. The stability of the sp2-sp network has important implications for astrophysics and for the production of novel carbon-based systems.