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：不仅是物质的第四态，而且是所有物质的第四态》中所述，“独特的非平衡环境以及等离子体产生的反应性和带电物质的组合提供了合成和修饰纳米尺寸材料的方法，这些方法可能无法通过任何其他方法实现。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，对于扩展当前的技术水平以产生科学上令人兴奋的和技术上重要的发现是必要的。从一开始，我的愿景就是投身于等离子体科学的肥沃领域，产生大量令人兴奋的新知识，特别是影响材料科学和技术。因此，我打算抓住新的机会，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，低成本和生态友好的工艺，以生产一类新型的纳米复合材料和/或以长丝或纳米晶体的形式功能化纳米结构纤维素。(ii)用于智能薄膜合成的低气压射频和微波等离子体。这项工作将解决与使用RF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VO 2薄膜相关的科学和技术挑战，以开发下一代可调智能辐射器设备，用于小型化卫星热控制。(iii)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。这项研究的影响，特别是天体物理学领域的实验室模拟工具，了解星际等离子体和聚变等离子体中的碳质尘埃的形成和运输。* 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，通过广泛的技能和专业知识激励高素质的人员（HQP）。该HQP将成为学术界和加拿大高科技产业未来的专业知识库。

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.