Resistive diamond-like carbon coatings for micro-pattern gaseous detectors: a review from USTC

The integration of resistive materials has fundamentally advanced Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detector (MPGD) technology, enabling robust, high-gain operation essential for modern particle physics experiments. Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) has emerged as a superior material for this purpose due to its uniquely tunable electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties. This article provides a comprehensive review of the development, fabrication, and application of DLC-based resistive coatings for MPGDs, with a focus on work conducted by the University of Science and Technology of China MPGD group. We detail the material fundamentals of DLC, systematically introduce magnetron sputtering as the core deposition methodology, and analyze the critical relationship between coating properties—such as resistivity, uniformity, adhesion, and stability—and final detector performance. A thorough examination of specific detector architectures (μ-RWELL, μRGroove, THGEMs, RWELL, Picosecond Micromegas) demonstrates the transformative impact of DLC. Finally, we summarized the outstanding technical challenges and present a perspective on future research directions aimed at scaling this technology for next-generation experiments.