A new system for deposition of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films through solvothermal electroreduction of chloroform was reported. Chloroform dissolved in a propylene carbonate (PC) solution containing Bu₄NCl as supporting electrolyte was electrochemically reduced at low potentials (－1.2 or －1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl/Cl^－). The effect of temperature, volume ratio of chloroform to PC and electrode materials on the deposition were studied. The products were characterized by the Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A DLC film containing more sp³ hybrid carbon atoms could be deposited at 100 ℃, volume ratio of chloroform to PC of 1/3 on a Pt electrode. The deposition mechanism was discussed.

Key words: diamond-like carbon, solvothermal electrodeposition, chloroform, electroreduction