Hard elastic carbon thin films from linking of carbon nanoparticles

Hard elastic thin films of pure carbon can be manufactured using nanotechnology. The process involves the high velocity deposition of closed, hollow graphitic carbon nanoparticles such as nanotubes and carbon onions onto a substrate. The process causes sp3-like bonds to bind together the sp2-bonded graphitic planes. During the bonding process, a substantial electron-energy-loss occurs in the sp2 bonding located in the intersecting regions of the nanoparticles.