Toward Fundamental Understanding of Plasma Processing Mechanisms: In Situ Studies of the Gas-Surface Interface During Materials Deposition and Modification

在这项由化学系实验化学项目资助的奖项中，来自科罗拉多州立大学的费舍尔教授将研究等离子体修饰过程对表面的影响。在使用具有定制表面属性的高性能材料的广泛应用中，等离子体处理已成为不可或缺的一部分。此外，新的等离子体表面改性工艺和沉积化学的发展是一个对生物材料、涂层和传感器应用产生重大影响的新兴领域。更全面地了解这些系统中的潜在化学成分，可能会导致制造业的改善，并对许多行业产生经济影响。因此，拟议工作的目标是提高对等离子体增强化学气相沉积和聚合物表面改性过程中表面发生的基本化学过程的理解。费舍尔教授和她的学生将通过一种综合的、全面的方法来理解这些系统中的分子水平的化学，从而实现这一目标。主要的实验工具是原位和频(SFG)光谱和基于激光成像的自由基与表面相互作用(IRIS)技术，它提供了等离子体物种的稳态表面相互作用数据。SFG实验旨在研究等离子体改性薄膜在暴露于大气气体时的演变，以研究等离子体改性中形成的不稳定中间体，从而阐明老化和疏水恢复过程中涉及的机制。这项研究的内在跨学科性质将使学生在化学、工程和材料科学方面获得广泛的接触和教育，超越化学的传统界限。费希尔教授将继续努力扩大代表不足群体的参与，并利用拟议的实验为参观者、高中团体和K-12教师开发等离子体和激光演示。

In this award, funded by the Experimental Chemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Fisher from Colorado State University will investigate the effect of plasma modification processes on surfaces. Plasma processing has become indispensable in a wide range of applications where high performance materials with tailored surface properties are employed. Moreover, development of new plasma surface modification processes and deposition chemistries is a burgeoning area of significant impact to biomaterials, coatings, and sensor applications. A more complete understanding of the underlying chemistry in these systems could lead to manufacturing improvements with economic impact across many industries. Thus, the goal of the proposed work is to improve understanding of the fundamental chemical processes that occur at surfaces during plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and surface modification of polymers. Professor Fisher and her students will achieve this goal through an integrated, comprehensive approach to understanding the molecular-level chemistry in these systems. The primary experimental tools to be employed are in situ sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy and the laser-based imaging of radicals interacting with surfaces (IRIS) technique, which provides steady-state surface interaction data for plasma species. The SFG experiments are designed to examine the evolution of plasma modified films upon exposure to atmospheric gases to study labile intermediates formed in plasma modification, thereby elucidating mechanisms involved in aging and hydrophobic recovery processes. The intrinsic interdisciplinary nature of this research will afford students a broad exposure to and education in chemistry, engineering, and materials science, beyond the traditional boundaries in chemistry. Professor Fisher will continue her efforts in broadening participation of underrepresented groups and use the proposed experiments to develop demonstrations of plasmas and lasers for visitors, high school groups and K-12 teachers.