Misty plasma as a pathway to nano-structured materials

Droplet-containing plasma discharges (so-called “misty plasmas”) provide an exciting new route to the deposition of technologically important nano-structured and nano-composite thin films. These films have many potential applications in important technology sectors. The aim of this project is to study the plasma response to the injection of nanoparticle-containing microdroplets, and to correlate the evolution of the plasma discharge parameters with the structure of the deposited nanocomposites, in order to ultimately be able to optimize nanocomposite film deposition. Plasma-droplet interactions can have a significant influence on the evolution of plasma parameters (e.g. the electron and ion density, electron temperature, plasma composition, and plasma transport parameters such as diffusion constants) and hence on the plasma-assisted film deposition process. In this project, we will concentrate on the evolution of a capacitively-coupled argon discharge in which droplets of different liquids are injected. Because of the growing importance of nanocomposite films for sensor, quantum, energy, and biomedical applications, developing a detailed understanding of misty plasmas as a route to nanocomposite thin film deposition is of high technological importance.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Bradley

Student:

Partner:

Université de Toulouse

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program: