Structural and optical properties of brominated plasma polymers

Novel brominated amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H:Br) films were produced by the plasma polymerization of acetylene–bromoform mixtures. The main parameter of interest was the degree of bromination, which depends on the partial pressure of bromoform in the plasma feed, expressed as a percentage of the total pressure, RB. When bromoform is present in the feed, deposition rates of up to about 110nmmin−1 may be obtained. The structure and composition of the films were characterized by Transmission Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (IRRAS) and X-ray Photo-electron Spectroscopy (XPS). The latter revealed that films with atomic ratios Br:C of up to 0.58 may be produced. Surface contact angles, measured using goniometry, could be increased from ~63° (for an unbrominated film) to ~90° for RB of 60 to 80%. Film surface roughness, measured using a profilometer, does not depend strongly on RB. Optical properties — the refractive index, n, absorption coefficient, α(E), where E is the photon energy, and the optical gap, Eg, were determined from film thicknesses and data obtained by Transmission Ultraviolet–Visible Near Infrared Spectroscopy (UVS). Control of n was possible via selection of RB. The measured optical gap increases with increasing FBC, the atomic ratio of Br to C in the film, and semi-empirical modeling accounts for this tendency. A typical hardness of the brominated films, determined via nano-indentation, was ~0.5GPa. •Novel a-C:H:Br films were produced in plasmas fed acetylene–bromoform mixtures.•As confirmed by XPS, films with Br:C ratios of up to 0.58 may be produced.•Atypically for plasma films, the surfaces of the brominated films are free of oxygen.•Measured and empirically-modeled film optical gaps are in fair agreement.