Nonthermal Plasma Synthesis of Nanocrystals: Fundamentals, Applications, and Future Research Needs

Abstract

Nonthermal plasma synthesis has emerged as a viable alternative to nanocrystal synthesis in the liquid phase or by other gas phase based methods. The nonequilibrium environment containing free charge carriers enables the synthesis of nanocrystals with excellent crystallinity and narrow size distributions. This paper reviews the fundamental mechanisms involved in the synthesis of nanocrystals with nonthermal plasmas. It discusses the luminescent properties of plasma-produced silicon nanocrystals and their application in devices such as light emitting diodes. The ability of plasma synthesis to generate doped nanocrystals is a particularly appealing attribute. We present boron and phosphorous doped silicon nanocrystals and review their applications as near infrared plasmonic materials. Finally, the author presents his view of some important research needs in the area of nonthermal plasma synthesis of nanocrystals.

Removal of toluene as a toxic VOC from methane gas using a non-thermal plasma dielectric barrier discharge reactor

“…It is well known that increasing plasma input power increases the number of high-energy electrons. 40,41 These high-energy electrons are responsible to increase the decomposition of VOCs, whereas they can also produce reactive species upon collision with background gas, [42][43][44] which can also contribute to the high conversion of VOCs. Therefore, at high power combined effect of energetic electrons and reactive species may contribute to enhance the decomposition of target compounds.…”

Interfacial region effect on thermal conductivity of silicon nanocrystal and polystyrene nanocomposites

“…Moreover, charge recombination occurring on the nanoparticle surface provides the energy necessary for crystallization. [ 20,21 ] The particle growth process is determined by reaction time in the plasma region, which is called residence time. By increasing the residence time, a larger size of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) can be produced with the consideration of plasma input power that is determining the crystalline fraction in SiNPs.…”

Physics of magnetized dusty plasmas

“…In astrophysical environments, also other charging mechanisms such as secondary electron emission or photoelectron emission can become dominant (Goertz 1989). In industrial discharges for plasma etching or thin film deposition reactive gases are employed that often tend to polymerize and to form nanometric dust particles (Bouchoule 1999;Hollenstein 2000;Boufendi and Bouchoule 2002;Boufendi et al 2011;Kortshagen 2016).…”