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Enhanced mechanical properties of Q-carbon nanocomposites by nanosecond pulsed laser annealing

Q-carbon is a metastable phase of carbon formed by melting and subsequently quenching amorphous carbon films by a nanosecond laser in a super undercooled state. As Q-carbon is a material harder than diamond, it makes an excellent reinforcing component inside the softer matrix of a composite coating. In this report, we present a single-step strategy to fabricate adherent coatings of hard and lubricating Q-carbon nanocomposites. These nanocomposites consist of densely-packed sp3-rich Q-carbon (82% sp3), and sp2-rich α-carbon (40% sp3) amorphous phases. The nanoindentation tests show that the Q-carbon nanocomposites exhibit a hardness of 67 GPa (Young’s modulus ∼ 840 GPa) in contrast to the soft α-carbon (hardness ∼ 18 GPa). The high hardness of Q-carbon nanocomposites results in 0.16 energy dispersion coefficient, in comparison with 0.74 for α-carbon. The soft α-carbon phase provides lubrication, resulting in low friction and wear coefficients of 0.09 and 1 × 10−6, respectively, against the diamond tip. The nanoscale dispersion of hard Q-carbon and soft α-carbon phases in the Q-carbon nanocomposites enhances the toughness of the coatings. We present detailed structure-property correlations to understand enhancement in the mechanical properties of Q-carbon nanocomposites. This work provides insights into the characteristics of Q-carbon nanocomposites and advances carbon-based superhard materials for longer lasting protective coatings and related applications.