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

正如美国能源部在2008年的报告《低温等离子体科学：不仅是物质的第四种状态，而且是所有这些物质的第四种状态)中所说的那样，“独特的非平衡环境以及等离子体产生的活性和带电物种的组合为合成和修饰纳米材料提供了方法，而这种方法可能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了解对于扩大目前的技术水平以产生科学上令人兴奋和技术上重要的发现是必要的。从一开始，我的愿景就是将自己投入到等离子体科学的肥沃领域，以产生大量令人兴奋的新知识，特别是影响材料科学和技术的新知识。因此，我打算通过解决三个具有挑战性的项目来抓住新的机遇：(I)用于纳米复合材料合成的低温大气压等离子体。该项目的主要目标是开发通用、简单、低成本和环保的工艺，以生产一类新型的纳米复合材料和/或以细丝或纳米晶体的形式对纳米结构的纤维素进行功能化。(Ii)用于SMART薄膜合成的低压射频和微波等离子体。这项工作将解决与使用射频和微波等离子体在Al和Kapton等空间兼容衬底上合成智能多晶VO2薄膜相关的科学和技术挑战，以开发用于小型卫星热控的下一代可调智能散热器设备。(3)有纳米颗粒存在的极低气压等离子体。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。这项研究特别影响到天体物理学领域，因为它是一种实验室模拟工具，用于了解碳质尘埃在星际等离子体和聚变等离子体中的形成和传输。*除了其科学和技术影响外，这一跨学科研究计划的一个主要好处是，它通过广泛的技能和专业知识为受激励的高素质人员(HQP)提供高水平的科学/技术培训。这一HQP将构成未来学术界和加拿大高科技行业的专业人才库。

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.