White paper on the future of plasma science for optics and glass

Abstract

This paper reflects on the future of low-temperature plasma science in relation to the manufacturing and novel uses of glass. The text summarizes the current state of the art on the major topics discussed, such as glass processing, optics and photonics, healthcare issues, building and fenestration applications. It also identifies several challenges that are driven by applications, and which are compatible with roadmaps for their respective industries. The frontiers of plasma science are discussed, for example, in relation to the use of plasmas as an active optical element in fast-response adaptive optics systems, optical metamaterials, and the development of next-generation nanolithography. Future demand for the successful implementation of plasma-based technologies in the glass, optics, and photonic industries will depend on further progress in plasma science. Hence, some needs and recommendations concerning both fundamental and applied plasma research are summarized.

Bioactive Glass Applications in Dentistry

“…Several methods of surface deposition have been investigated in the pursuit of a reliable BAG coating of DIs, including glazing [177,179,180,181], sol-gel deposition [182,183], electrophoretic deposition [184,185], pulsed laser deposition [186,187], ion-beam [188], and radio-frequency magnetron sputtering [189,190,191]. The radio-frequency magnetron sputtering (RF-MS), which yields a coating with excellent adherence and purity even in complex geometrical objects, seems promising [192,193]. In vivo animal studies of BAG-coated Ti-DIs osseointegrated with significantly more surrounding bone tissue than control DIs [194,195].…”

Bioactive Glasses and Glass-Ceramics for Healthcare Applications in Bone Regeneration and Tissue Engineering

“…Simultaneously, the ionisation probability of the neutral working gas molecules is augmented by several orders of magnitude, having as an effect a more stable plasma and greater number of available bombarding ions, and thus, a significant improvement of the sputtering yield [367]. Furthermore, radio-frequency magnetron sputtering (RF-MS) has a series of other remarkable advantages, including: high purity, excellent adherence, uniformity in both thickness and composition on large-area substrates (dependent only on the magnetron gun size), compactness, ability of facile engineering of film properties by variation of the process parameters (working pressure, electric power, target-to-substrate separation distance, substrate temperature, working gas composition), or the possibility of coating complex-shaped objects if adopting planetary rotation holders [367,368,369]. The demonstrated ability of RF-MS to surpass technological barriers and be scaled up with ease to an industrial level (as shown in the optoelectronics industry) [367,369] should increase its desirability in the biomedical field also.…”

The future for plasma science and technology

“…Continued progress and emerging applications will guarantee an ongoing interest in the further developments of plasma coating and processing methods. Respective challenges and newest developments in the area of optics and glass are described in more detail in a recent “white paper on the future of plasma science for optics and glass.” Since a major limitation of current procedures is the need for operation at reduced pressures, major breakthroughs in the development of atmospheric‐pressure procedures that are providing the same quality and characteristics as low pressure methods are highly desirable and are currently driving major research efforts. Even without this achievement, plasma‐based processes are already competing successfully with wet chemical ones for surface activation and cleaning, and hold the promise to become the gold standard.…”

“…Concurrently, for each of the topics that were discussed during the workshops individual “white papers” were compiled that present more details especially on trends and the different research questions in the respective areas. Four of them have already been published on “the future of plasma science for optics and glass,” “the future of plasma science and technology in plastics and textiles,” “the future of plasma science in environment, for gas conversion and agriculture,” and “plasma for medicine and hygiene.”…”