A simple thermal chemical vapor deposition technique is employed for the pyrolysis of a natural precursor "camphor" and deposition of carbon films on alumina substrate at higher temperatures (600-900 degrees C). X-ray diffraction measurement reveals the amorphous structure of these films. The carbon films properties are found to significantly vary with the deposition temperatures. At higher deposition temperature, films have shown predominately sp(2)-bonded carbon and therefore, higher conductivity and lower optical band gap (Tauc gap). These amorphous carbon (a-C) films are also characterized with Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In addition, electrical and optical properties are measured. The thermoelectric measurement shows these as-grown a-C films are p-type in nature. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.