Surface in-situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiation

Surface graphitization is an effective method for improving the friction performance of amorphous carbon (a-C) films. However, traditional modified methods, such as metal catalysis, addition of extra graphite or graphene, and annealing, often have drawbacks, such as complex operation, structural dam...

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Main Authors: Zan Chen, Xubing Wei, Shiqi Lu, Jiaqing Ding, Naizhou Du, Cunao Feng, Kai Chen, Peng Guo, Kwang-Ryeol Lee, Guangan Zhang, Xiaowei Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tsinghua University Press 2025-06-01
Series:Friction
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Online Access:https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/FRICT.2025.9440977
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author Zan Chen
Xubing Wei
Shiqi Lu
Jiaqing Ding
Naizhou Du
Cunao Feng
Kai Chen
Peng Guo
Kwang-Ryeol Lee
Guangan Zhang
Xiaowei Li
author_facet Zan Chen
Xubing Wei
Shiqi Lu
Jiaqing Ding
Naizhou Du
Cunao Feng
Kai Chen
Peng Guo
Kwang-Ryeol Lee
Guangan Zhang
Xiaowei Li
author_sort Zan Chen
collection DOAJ
description Surface graphitization is an effective method for improving the friction performance of amorphous carbon (a-C) films. However, traditional modified methods, such as metal catalysis, addition of extra graphite or graphene, and annealing, often have drawbacks, such as complex operation, structural damage to the graphitized layer and intrinsic a-C films. In this study, a novel approach is explored to achieve in-situ surface graphitization of a-C films by short-term laser irradiation. In particular, as a key parameter, the influence of laser irradiation power on the surface graphitization structure and the mechanical and tribological properties of a-C films was emphasized. The results indicate that surface in-situ graphitization is successfully obtained on the surface of a-C films by laser irradiation and the surface graphitization degree is positively correlated with the laser irradiation power. Importantly, an obviously curled graphene structure is formed on the a-C films after laser irradiation. Compared with those of the intrinsic a-C film, the hardness and elastic modulus of the graphitized film surface obviously decrease after laser irradiation but without significantly deteriorated internal mechanical properties of the a-C film and also decrease gradually with increasing laser power, which is related to the increase in the sp2-C structure. Notably, in-situ surface graphitization induced by laser irradiation obviously reduces friction, which can be reduced by 25.41% compared with the intrinsic a-C film. This is attributed to the fast formation of the graphitized transfer film, which facilitates the transition of the friction interface from graphitized a-C surface/Al2O3 to graphitized a-C surface/graphitized transfer film.
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id doaj-art-133d9b9de00d41e68df0f601bc592029
institution Kabale University
issn 2223-7690
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language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Tsinghua University Press
record_format Article
series Friction
spelling doaj-art-133d9b9de00d41e68df0f601bc5920292025-08-20T03:48:14ZengTsinghua University PressFriction2223-76902223-77042025-06-01136944097710.26599/FRICT.2025.9440977Surface in-situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiationZan Chen0Xubing Wei1Shiqi Lu2Jiaqing Ding3Naizhou Du4Cunao Feng5Kai Chen6Peng Guo7Kwang-Ryeol Lee8Guangan Zhang9Xiaowei Li10School of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaKey Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, ChinaComputational Science Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of KoreaState Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSurface graphitization is an effective method for improving the friction performance of amorphous carbon (a-C) films. However, traditional modified methods, such as metal catalysis, addition of extra graphite or graphene, and annealing, often have drawbacks, such as complex operation, structural damage to the graphitized layer and intrinsic a-C films. In this study, a novel approach is explored to achieve in-situ surface graphitization of a-C films by short-term laser irradiation. In particular, as a key parameter, the influence of laser irradiation power on the surface graphitization structure and the mechanical and tribological properties of a-C films was emphasized. The results indicate that surface in-situ graphitization is successfully obtained on the surface of a-C films by laser irradiation and the surface graphitization degree is positively correlated with the laser irradiation power. Importantly, an obviously curled graphene structure is formed on the a-C films after laser irradiation. Compared with those of the intrinsic a-C film, the hardness and elastic modulus of the graphitized film surface obviously decrease after laser irradiation but without significantly deteriorated internal mechanical properties of the a-C film and also decrease gradually with increasing laser power, which is related to the increase in the sp2-C structure. Notably, in-situ surface graphitization induced by laser irradiation obviously reduces friction, which can be reduced by 25.41% compared with the intrinsic a-C film. This is attributed to the fast formation of the graphitized transfer film, which facilitates the transition of the friction interface from graphitized a-C surface/Al2O3 to graphitized a-C surface/graphitized transfer film.https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/FRICT.2025.9440977amorphous carbon (a-c) filmsurface modificationlaser-induced in-situ graphitizationfriction reductionsolid lubrication
spellingShingle Zan Chen
Xubing Wei
Shiqi Lu
Jiaqing Ding
Naizhou Du
Cunao Feng
Kai Chen
Peng Guo
Kwang-Ryeol Lee
Guangan Zhang
Xiaowei Li
Surface in-situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiation
Friction
amorphous carbon (a-c) film
surface modification
laser-induced in-situ graphitization
friction reduction
solid lubrication
title Surface in-situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiation
title_full Surface in-situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiation
title_fullStr Surface in-situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiation
title_full_unstemmed Surface in-situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiation
title_short Surface in-situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiation
title_sort surface in situ graphitization and properties of amorphous carbon film induced by laser irradiation
topic amorphous carbon (a-c) film
surface modification
laser-induced in-situ graphitization
friction reduction
solid lubrication
url https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/FRICT.2025.9440977
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