Plasma Technology, Nanoengineering of Advanced Materials

In the last century Langmuir started the investigation of plasma. Since then scientists have been investigating the great energetic potential of plasma chemistry for chemical transformations, macromolecular depositions and surface modification of materials, especially polymers. Recently, nanoscale investigations in various scientific fields point out the importance of nanostructures (nanoparticles, nanopatterns, nanotopographies, nanocomposites) for advanced material properties and for extending these properties (eg, mechanical, electrical, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, etc.) beyond typical material properties. Plasmas have unique properties due to high energetic level combined with presence of very active species: radicals, ions and electrons; complex chemical mechanisms can develop to deposit macromolecular layers or to produce nanostructures on various surfaces for advanced material properties beyond bulk properties of polymers. Cold plasma as source for charged particles was used to induce nanotopographies on homopolymeric surfaces and for surface nanoengineering of polymers using vacuum operated or atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium barrier discharge reactors. SEM and AFM analyses reveal the presence of nanotopographies on the treated surfaces. Physical factors control the process below the glass-transition temperature, Tg and chemical factors dominate the process above Tg. Charges are tools that open-up new ways for nanoengineering of the polymers' surfaces with specific functionalities / topography. Future nanomanufacturing techniques can generate anti-scratch, superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic properties on surface of everyday use polymeric products by simple and convenient plasma enhanced processes. Keywords: plasma chemistry; nanostructured materials; nanotopography; biomaterials; surface modification; functionalization