Thin Films of Plasma-Polymerized n-Hexane and ZnO Nanoparticles Co-Deposited via Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet

This study explores the co-deposition of thin polymeric films loaded with nanoparticles for its possible future application as radiation detectors. Thin films containing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in plasma polymerized n-hexane (PPH) were deposited on silicon substrates using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). Crystalline ZnO nanoparticles were produced by wet chemistry, characterized, and injected through the plasma with an aerosol buffer. The precursor hydrocarbon was polymerized in atmosphere at room temperature by the plasma, resulting in a highly crosslinked structure chemically stable against common solvents. The polymer structure was characterized by FT-IR, NMR, and thermal analyses. Photoluminescence analysis revealed that ZnO UV excitonic emission is recovered owing to the passivation through polymeric encapsulation, with a remarkable increase in luminescence yield.