Collaborative: Plasma deposition of thin films on nanowires and particles

本项目致力于在纳米颗粒和纳米线上的低压等离子体沉积纳米级薄膜(厚度从10纳米以下到100纳米高度均匀)，具有高密度、低孔隙率和低厚度。所提出的工艺允许薄膜厚度和结构的高度可控性。本方法的创新之处在于利用静电捕获现象在化学反应等离子体中产生纳米线/纳米颗粒的悬浮液。这种方法允许纳米线/纳米颗粒在反应器中停留足够长的时间来沉积所需厚度的薄膜，并使将广泛的等离子体处理技术转移到纳米线的表面处理成为可能。通过将实验研究与计算部分相结合，研究人员将对等离子体表面沉积中涉及的各种物理和化学现象有一个更详细的基本了解。在建模中，他们将创建多尺度模型，其中包含分子相互作用、静电学、化学动力学和运输，受反应堆的宏观尺寸限制。在建立了基于实验的模型有效性后，它将被用于随后提供物理洞察力和反馈，以改进实验结果的设计和解释。CBET-0651362 Mashayek这项基础研究旨在合成在生物传感和纳米电子领域具有潜在应用的核壳结构。纳米粒子和纳米线是纳米技术的主要组成部分。这些纳米结构及其组装显示出许多独特的光学、机械和电学性质，可用于生物传感和超高密度电子设备等应用。通过涂覆其他材料来改变其表面，以改善其附着力、疏水性、亲水性、可印刷性和耐腐蚀性，可以显著扩大其应用范围。通过建立一个专注于等离子体物理基础科学的合作团队，该项目预计将产生超出该计划特定研究目标的好处。该奖项支持两名研究生，他们将接受跨学科领域的培训。它将进一步支持本科生的研究机会，并将开发与纳米颗粒和纳米线上薄膜沉积相关概念的教育模块和实践活动。除了在学术期刊上发表这项研究外，研究结果还将以教育动画的形式传播，展示等离子体反应堆中的各种过程。

This project focuses on the low-pressure plasma deposition onto nanoparticles and nanowires of nanometer-scale films (highly uniform thicknesses from under 10 nanometers to 100 nanometers) having high density, low porosity, and thickness. The proposed process allows high controllability of the thickness and structure of the film. The novelty of the present approach lies in taking advantage of the phenomenon of electrostatic trapping to produce a suspension of nanowires/nanoparticles within a chemically reacting plasma. This approach allows the nanowires/nanoparticles to remain in the reactor long enough to deposit films of desirable thickness and makes it possible to transfer the extensive know-how about plasma processing to the surface treatment of nanowires. By combining the experimental study with a computational component, the investigators will develop a more detailed fundamental understanding of the various physical and chemical phenomena involved in the plasma-based surface deposition. In the modeling, they will create multiscale models that incorporate molecular interactions, electrostatics, chemical kinetics and transport, bounded by the macroscopic dimensions of the reactor. After establishing model validity based on the experiments, it will be used subsequently to provide physical insight and feedback for improvement of the design and interpretation of the results of the experiments.CBET-0651362 Mashayek This fundamental research is targeting the synthesis of core-shell structures that have potential applications in the areas of biosensing and nanoelectronics. Nanoparticles and nanowires are among the main building blocks of nanotechnology. These nanostructures and assemblies of them exhibit many unique optical, mechanical, and electrical properties that can be exploited in applications such as biological sensing and ultra-high-density electronics. Their range of application can be significantly extended by altering their surfaces through coating with other materials to improve properties such as adhesion, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, printability, and corrosion resistance. By establishing a collaborative team, focused on basic science of plasma physics, the project is anticipated to yield benefits that will extend beyond the specific research goals of the program. The award supports two graduate students who will be trained in an interdisciplinary area. It will further supports undergraduate research opportunities and will develop educational modules and hands-on activities on concepts related to thin film deposition onto nanoparticles and nanowires. In addition to publishing the research in scholarly journals, results will also be disseminated as educational animations demonstrating various processes in the plasma reactor.