Low-Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Processes for the Deposition of Nanocomposite Coatings

Abstract

Low-temperature atmospheric pressure (AP) plasma technologies have recently proven to offer a range of interesting opportunities for the preparation of a variety of nanocomposite (NC) coatings with different chemical compositions, structures, and morphologies. Since the late 2000s, numerous strategies have been implemented for the deposition of this intriguing class of coatings by using both direct and remote AP plasma sources. Interestingly, considerable progress has been made in the development of aerosol-assisted deposition processes in which the use of either precursor solutions or nanoparticle dispersions in aerosol form allows greatly widening the range of constituents that can be combined in the plasma-deposited NC films. This review summarizes the research published on this topic so far and, specifically, aims to present a concise survey of the developed plasma processes, with particular focus on their optimization as well as on the structural and functional properties of the NC coatings to which they provide access. Current challenges and opportunities are also briefly discussed to give an outlook on possible future research directions.

Soft polymerization of hexamethyldisiloxane by coupling pulsed direct‐liquid injections with dielectric barrier discharge

“…For example, nanocomposites were produced using a solution of metal (gold) salts dissolved in a polymerizable solvent (isopropanol) [ 31 ] or colloidal solutions with metal‐oxide (ZnO, TiO 2 ) nanoparticles injected in low‐ and atmospheric‐pressure plasmas. [ 12,32‐36 ]…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] For applications requiring low-cost deposition over large areas, atmospheric-pressure plasma processes, including those based on dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs), are relevant. [9][10][11][12] In most systems, reactive precursors used for plasma deposition are injected either as gases (e.g. silane) or vapors (e.g.…”

Aerosol‐assisted open‐air plasma deposition of acrylate‐based composite coatings: Molecule release control through precursor selection

“…Aerosol‐assisted APPD (AA‐APPD) has shown to be the most promising strategy to deposit composite coatings with embedded unaltered bioactive molecules by in‐situ one‐step direct plasma processes. [ 10,11 ] The best results, so far, have been obtained by injecting a water aerosol in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), at the deposition site. This approach has shown to be appropriate to deposit and embed various bioactive agents dissolved in the water aerosol such as enzymes, [ 12 ] proteins, [ 13–16 ] antibiotics, [ 17,18 ] and ionic silver.…”

“…[ 22,23 ] However, to the best of our knowledge, direct deposition of biodegradable composite coatings with an entrapped bioactive agent has never been reported. [ 10,11 ] Indeed, the precursors used to deposit biodegradable coatings are mostly nebulized (and not vaporized) as aerosols in the DBD, thus hampering their use to deposit entrapped or embedded drugs with common processes.…”

Spectroscopic Characterization of an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Used for Cold Plasma Spraying

“…Thin film deposition has great significance in industrial and medical processes, and numerous studies are concerned with the development of thin-film processes for specific applications [1,2]. Plasma spraying by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) allows the deposition of thin layers of metal, metal oxide or polymers and on temperaturesensitive substrates, such as paper or wood.…”