Invited Paper PS+EM-MoA6
Microplasma Based Synthesis of Nanomaterials

Monday, October 19, 2015, 4:00 pm, Room 210B

We present a hybrid plasma spray deposition technique, based on geometrically-confined, supersonic microplasma jets, which can create a wide range of metal, metal oxide/sulfide, and semiconductor nanoparticles and nanostructured thin film materials (e.g., CuO/CuS, ZnO, SnO₂, NiO/NiFe₂O₄) on virtually any surface. Organometallic or aerosolized precursors are broken down in a hollow cathode microplasma jet under different reducing/oxidizing atmospheres at high pressure (10-100 torr), creating a directed flux of active metal and oxide species for the subsequent growth of nanostructured films. Interaction of the jet afterglow with the background gas can create additional species (e.g., excited neutrals, radicals, etc.) which participate in film growth. By adjusting supersonic flow characteristics and plasma operating conditions, deposits ranging from isolated nanoparticles to films of fibers, aggregates, nanowires, and dense columns can be realized. The talk will highlight our recent efforts in nanomaterial synthesis via microplasmas with emphasis on the physics of the jet source, dynamics of the growth process, and applications such as solar cell electrodes, photo(electro)catalysis, and nanogranular films for magnetic exchange bias applications.