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Uniform amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) films with surface roughnesses ranging between 1 nm and 4 nm were produced by radio frequency self biased plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (rf PECVD) on > Silicon substrates using 100% methane precursor gas mixture, rf power densities ranging between 0.11 W/cm2 and 1.07 W/cm2, and pressures ranging between 0.67 Pa and 40 Pa. Reciprocating sliding friction experiments were conducted on the a-C:H films with hemispherical, silicon nitride pins in dry nitrogen and in 60% relative humidity. The coefficients of friction and the wear rates of the a-C:H were very low in dry nitrogen, ranging from 0.03 to 0.05, and from 1.1 × 108 mm3/Nm to 2.3 × 10−6 mm3/Nm, respectively. In 60% relative humidity, the initial coefficients of friction were approximately 0.30. However, the steady state coefficients of friction of the a-C:H films ranged from 0.10 and 0.30, depending on the deposition conditions. The wear rates ranged from 2.0 × 10−9 mm3/Nm to 8.9 x 10−8 mm3/Nm in 60% relative humidity. Raman microprobe spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) revealed that sliding friction was transforming the a-C:H films into a material primarily composed of sp2 bonded carbon with increasing short range order. Qualitatively, the amount of wear which occurred corresponded to the extent that the structural changes progressed. The a-C:H films were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface profilometry.

Cesium iodide (CsI) coated carbon fiber cathodes have shown promise as a cold cathode for microwave and x-ray devices. In particular, the cathodes have demonstrated over 1 000 000 shots lifetime at operating voltages at or in excess of 165 kV and current densities greater than 25A/cm2. While the vacuum emission characteristics have been well studied, the materials characteristics of the cathodes themselves, particularly after operation, have received little attention. Furthermore, while researchers at University of Wisconsin have demonstrated a reduction in work function of carbon due to the CsI coating, the details of the emission mechanism remain poorly understood. This article gives results of a series of materials diagnostics investigating the cathode surface morphology as well as the changes in the carbon fiber structure with cathode shot history. We demonstrate that the cathode surface undergoes several changes in relation to the bond line along the fiber-substrate interface as well as at the fiber tips. While the exact mechanisms leading to these changes have not been determined, we offer several possible explanations for the changes, as well as the means by which these mechanisms can be ascertained.