Elaboration and electrochemical characterization of nitrogenated amorphous carbon films

Nitrogenated amorphous carbon (a-CNx) films have been synthesized by a magnetron sputtering technique with a view to prepare improved electrode materials. Thin films of about 100 nm appeared to be compact, without pin-holes and well adherent to the silicon or titanium substrates, but present a low conductivity. IR absorption indicates that nitrogen is both substituted to sp(3) carbon and highly bonded to sp(2) olefinic chains. Electrochemical reactivity investigated in blocking conditions and in the presence of a fast outer-sphere reaction shows similar performances to BDD for both the potential window (similar to3.5 V) and the reversibility of the redox reaction. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.