RF and microwave plasmas intended for applications to nanomaterials and thin films synthesis

正如美国能源部2008年的报告《低温等离子体科学：不仅是物质的第四种状态，而且是所有状态》中所述，“等离子体创造的独特的非平衡环境以及活性物质和带电物质的结合，提供了合成和修饰纳米材料的方法，这是任何其他方法都无法实现的。”然而，对活性自由基、离子、电子和光子如何与物质相互作用的基本理解，对于扩展当前的艺术状态，产生令人兴奋的科学和技术上的重要发现是必要的。”从一开始，我的愿景就是投身于等离子体科学这一肥沃的领域，在材料科学和技术领域产生大量令人兴奋的新知识。因此，我打算抓住新的机遇，解决3个具有挑战性的项目：(I)低温大气压等离子体纳米复合材料合成。该项目的主要目标是开发多功能，简单，低成本和环保的工艺，以生产新型纳米复合材料和/或以细丝或纳米晶体的形式功能化纳米结构纤维素。用于智能薄膜合成的低压射频和微波等离子体。这项工作将解决与在空间兼容的衬底（如Al和Kapton）上合成智能多晶VO2薄膜相关的科学和技术挑战，使用射频和微波等离子体开发用于小型化卫星热控制的下一代可调谐智能散热器设备。（三）纳米粒子存在下的极低压等离子体。我将从事一个非常令人兴奋的项目，研究高频等离子体中尘埃粒子的形成和传输。这项研究对天体物理学领域的影响特别大，它可以作为实验室模拟工具来理解星际等离子体和聚变等离子体中碳质尘埃的形成和传输。******除了其科学和技术的影响，这个跨学科的研究计划的一个主要好处是，它提供了高水平的科学/技术培训，积极的高素质人才（HQP）通过广泛的技能和专业知识。这一HQP将为学术界和加拿大高科技工业构成一个未来的专业知识库。

As stated in the 2008 report of the US Department of Energy, Low Temperature Plasma Science: Not Only the Fourth State of Matter but All of Them, “The unique nonequilibrium environment and the combination of reactive and charged species created by the plasma provide the means to synthesize and modify nanometer-sized materials in ways that may not be achieved by any other means. However, a fundamental understanding of how reactive radicals, ions, electrons, and photons interact with matter is necessary for extending the current state of the art to produce scientifically exciting and technologically important discoveries.” From the very beginning, my vision was to engage myself in the fertile field of plasma science to generate large amounts of exciting new knowledge impacting in particular materials science and technology. Accordingly, I intend to seize new opportunities by tackling 3 challenging projects: (i) LOW-TEMPERATURE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE PLASMAS FOR NANOCOMPOSITE SYNTHESIS. The main goal of this project is to develop versatile, simple, low-cost and eco-friendly processes to produce a novel class of nanocomposites and/or to functionalize nanostructured cellulose in the form of either filaments or nanocrystals. (ii) LOW-PRESSURE RF AND MICROWAVE PLASMAS FOR SMART THIN FILMS SYNTHESIS. This work will tackle the scientific and technological challenges associated with the synthesis of smart polycrystalline VO2 thin films on space-compatible substrates such as Al and Kapton using RF and microwave plasmas to develop the next generation of tunable smart radiator devices for miniaturized satellite thermal control. (iii) VERY LOW PRESSURE PLASMAS IN THE PRESENCE OF NANOPARTICLES. I will pursue an extremely exciting project dealing with the investigation of dust particles formation and transport in high-frequency plasmas. This research impacts in particular the field of astrophysics as a laboratory simulation tool to understand the formation and transport of carboneous dust in interstellar plasmas and in fusion plasmas. ******In addition to its scientific and technological impact, a major benefit of this interdisciplinary research program is that it provides high level of scientific/technical training to motivated Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) through a broad set of skills and expertise. This HQP will constitute a future pool of expertise for academia and for high-technology Canadian industries.