Studies of the effects of the nano particles incorporation in very thick DLC films

• Grant number: 25/16688-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Vladimir Jesus Trava-Airoldi
• Grantee: Vanderlane Cavalcanti da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/18572-7 - New carbon materials: their relevant space, environmental and relevant spin off applications, AP.TEM

Abstract

DLC thin films have been shown to be an alternative for many applications, not only because of their diversity of production in the different types of substrates with adhesion and mechanical, trybological and biological properties, but especially because they can be obtained in a simple way in a multilayer structure with relatively large thickness. Also, with the improvement of the PECVD growth technique, adding a system of ions and electrons confinement, it allowed to work in a collisionless regime and improve its properties and the uniformity of deposition in 3D. With this new system, the introduction of different nanoparticles "in situ" has become simpler under a new growth conditions to be studied. In this work, we will study all the properties of a DLC film of high thickness, above 5 micrometers. Measurements of hardness, coefficient of friction, internal stress, wear rate, biocompatibility, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, porosity, resistance to induced and non-induced corrosion, as well as surface energy, will be studied as a function of the density of nanoparticles and as a function of the different nanoparticles incorporated. Initially, due to preliminary results, it is considered important to incorporate diamond, metallic (Cu, Ag), ceramic and graphene nanoparticles. Electrical and piezoelectric properties will also be studied in order to investigate another area of application, more specifically in the area of strain sensors. In addition, studies of the tunneling effect will be prioritized seeking to better understand the action of the nanoparticles incorporated in the changes of the surface and "bulk" properties of the DLC films. For this work, it will be considered the manufacture of CVD diamond nanoparticles in our laboratories with well-controlled diameter. To introduce the nano particles, by using different colloidal solutions, inside the reactor, pulsed valves will be used with control of the opening time. Trybological, mechanical, chemical and electrochemical characterizations, morphology, structural and electrical analyses, etc., will be made in our Laboratories. The tunneling analyses, via AFM, in addition to the existing structure at INPE, we will seek help in other laboratories via scientific cooperation. (AU)