Development of new processes based on a reactor-injector of nanoparticles for plasma deposition of multifunctional and sustainable nanocomposite coatings (RI-plasma)

多功能涂层的概念已成为创新表面开发的特权。对于几种国际竞争性应用，一个挑战是获得由小的（<10 nm）、孤立的（非聚集的）和良好分散的纳米颗粒（NP）形成的纳米复合材料（NC）涂层。在这种情况下，我们希望在这个跨学科的研究合作，探索一个前沿的潜力，“安全的设计”，多功能，绿色，可扩展的方法沉积的多功能和可持续的NC薄膜。具有高工业应用潜力的目标方法是基于NP的反应器-注射器（基于Kemstream的商业雾化器）与先进的等离子体工艺耦合。更具体地，该方法允许在将液体有机金属前体注入沉积反应器之前由液体有机金属前体合成NP。这防止了与液滴蒸发相关的任何附聚，并进一步降低了与合成和加工期间NP的操作相关的潜在人类和环境风险。在第一步中，将确定和开发用于合成金属氧化物纳米颗粒的有机金属前体，并确定适合于RI适应水解的实验参数。然后，将在加拿大Plasmionique公司感兴趣的两种类型的非平衡（或非热）等离子体反应器中进行NP的注入，即用于批量处理的减压电容RF放电和用于卷对卷连续处理的大气压下的均匀介电阻挡放电。根据我们的工业合作伙伴赛峰集团（Safran）所表达的创新战略以及NC涂层在航空和航天探索（A&S）领域的极高附加值，我们将特别关注基于分散在各种基质（包括“类金刚石碳”）中的金属氧化物（ZnO和NiOx）纳米颗粒的NC薄膜。具体而言，我们将重点关注推动多功能和可持续NC薄膜物理和化学性能演变的所有因素，特别是在极端老化条件下的机械性能。

The concept of multifunctional coatings has become a prerogative in the development of innovative surfaces. For several internationally competitive applications, one challenge is to obtain nanocomposite (NC) coatings formed by small (<10 nm), isolated (non-aggregated) and well-dispersed nanoparticles (NPs). In this context, we wish to explore in this interdisciplinary research collaboration, the potential of a front-edge, "safe-by-design", versatile, green, and scalable method for deposition of multifunctional and sustainable NC thin films. The targeted method with high potential for industrial applications is based on a reactor-injector of NPs (based on Kemstream's commercial atomizer) coupled to advanced plasma processes. More specifically, this method allows to synthesize NPs from liquid organometallic precursors just before their injection into a deposition reactor. This prevents any agglomeration associated with the vaporization of droplets and further reduces potential human and environmental risks linked to the manipulation of NPs during synthesis and processing. In a first step, organometallic precursors will be identified and developed for the synthesis of metal oxide NPs and the experimental parameters suitable for RI-adapted hydrolysis will be determined. The injection of NPs will then be carried out in two types of non-equilibrium (or non-thermal) plasma reactors of interest to the Canadian company Plasmionique, namely reduced-pressure capacitive RF discharges for batch-like processing and homogeneous dielectric barrier discharges at atmospheric pressure for roll-to-roll continuous treatments. In line with the innovation strategy expressed by our industrial partner Safran and the very high added value of NC coatings in the fields of aeronautics and space exploration (A&S), special attention will be devoted to NC thin films based on NPs of metal oxides (ZnO and NiOx) dispersed in various matrices including "diamond-like carbon". Specifically, we will focus on all the factors driving the evolution of the physical and chemical properties of multifunctional and sustainable NC thin films, and, in particular, their mechanical properties under extreme ageing conditions.