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

该奖项由化学学部实验化学项目资助，来自科罗拉多州立大学的Fisher教授将研究等离子体修饰过程对表面的影响。等离子体加工在广泛的应用中已经成为不可缺少的，在这些应用中，采用了具有定制表面特性的高性能材料。此外，新的等离子体表面改性工艺和沉积化学的发展是对生物材料、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潜在的化学成分，可能会导致许多行业的制造改进和经济影响。因此，所提出的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发生在表面的基本化学过程的理解。Fisher教授和她的学生将通过综合、全面的方法来理解这些系统中的分子水平化学，从而实现这一目标。采用的主要实验工具是原位和频率产生（SFG）光谱和基于自由基与表面相互作用的激光成像（IRIS）技术，该技术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修饰膜在暴露于大气气体时的演变，以研究等离子体修饰过程中形成的不稳定中间体，从而阐明老化和疏水恢复过程的机制。本研究内在的跨学科性质将为学生提供化学、工程和材料科学方面的广泛接触和教育，超越化学的传统界限。费希尔教授将继续努力扩大代表性不足的群体的参与，并利用拟议的实验为游客、高中团体和K-12教师开发等离子体和激光的演示。

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.