Long-lasting hydrophilicity on nanostructured Si-incorporated diamond-like carbon films

Langmuir. 2010 Nov 16;26(22):17203-9. doi: 10.1021/la103221m. Epub 2010 Oct 5.

Abstract

We investigated the long-lasting hydrophilic behavior of a Si-incorporated diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) film by varying the Si fraction in DLC matrix through oxygen and nitrogen plasma surface treatments. The wetting behavior of the water droplets on the pure DLC and Si-DLC with the nitrogen or oxygen plasma treatment revealed that the Si element in the oxygen-plasma-treated Si-DLC films played a major role in maintaining a hydrophilic wetting angle of <10° for 20 days in ambient air. The nanostructured patterns with a roughness of ∼10 nm evolved because of the selective etching of the carbon matrix by the oxygen plasma in the Si-DLC film, where the chemical component of the Si-Ox bond was enriched on the top of the nanopatterns and remained for over 20 days.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Diamond / chemistry*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • Plasma Gases / chemistry
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Time Factors
  • Water
  • Wettability

Substances

  • Plasma Gases
  • Water
  • Diamond
  • Oxygen
  • Silicon