Formation of linear carbon chains during the initial stage of nanostructured carbon film growth

The initial stage of nanostructured carbon film growth is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The carbon film exhibits amorphous structures with linear chains and cyclic rings on the surface at low incident energies. The structural transformations from linear chains to cyclic rings and to atom networks are observed during the growth process, which is explained in terms of system stability. The atomic adsorption behavior is analyzed through the calculation of the surface potential field. The formation of linear chain structure is due to the predominance of inhomogeneous adsorption of incident atoms on the surface and preferential growth at the tip of the chain. The formation of nanostructures on the surface is argued to be the initial nucleation process of amorphous carbon films. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2978358]