This paper presents a Raman spectroscopy study of the influence of methane flow on the micro-tribological behavior of diamond-like carbon coatings deposited with an industrial plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system. Results have shown a direct relationship between the methane flow and thickness of the coatings. The analysis of the Raman spectra and deposition parameters allowed establishing the influence of H content with the methane flow, the disorder level and estimation of the sp3 fraction on the carbon coatings. The micro-tribology tests showed a strong dependence of the wear resistance and hardness with Raman parameters. The coating deposited at 72-sccm methane flow presented a thickness of 1.7 μm and a sp3 fraction of 0.33. This sp3 fraction gave rise to a hardness of 24 GPa and an excellent wear resistance of 3.3 × 10–6 mm3 N−1 mm−1 for this DLC coating. Wear tests showed a swelling in the wear profiles on this coating, which was associated with the occurrence of a re-hybridization process.

Isolated single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using a liquid precursor (xylene) as a carbon source. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy confirmed the isolated structure of the SWCNTs. Micro-Raman measurements showed a tangential G-band peak (1590cm-1) and radial breathing mode (RBM) peaks (150-240cm-1). The tube diameters determined from the RBM frequencies are in good agreement with those obtained from TEM. The chirality of the isolated SWCNTs could be determined based on the energy of the laser and their diameter. A further preliminary study on the nitrogen doping of isolated SWCNTs was carried out by the simple use of acetonitrile dissolved in the precusor.