State analysis of nitrogen in carbon film derived from polyimide Kapton Original Research Article

The carbon films prepared from polyimide Kapton were investigated by XPS and elemental analysis. The chemical states of carbon and nitrogen gradually changed with carbonization temperature and the changes in the peak intensity ratio of I[N1s]I[C1s] by XPS were consistent with NC mole ratios by elemental analysis. The N1s peak around 401 eV which was a main component at 1200 °C was considered to correspond to quaternary species such as a pyrrole type nitrogen. This species may exist in the carbon films prepared at 2000 °C and affect their properties.