Atmospheric pulsed laser deposition and thermal annealing of plasmonic silver nanoparticle films

Raffi

et al. 2021

Molecules

In this study, time-dependent, one-dimensional modeling of a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) device, driven by a sinusoidal voltage of amplitude 1–3 kV at 20 kHz, in argon is described. An SDBD device with two Cu-stripe electrodes, covered by the quartz dielectric and with the discharge gap of 20 × 10−3 m, was assumed, and the time-dependent, one-dimensional discharge parameters were simulated versus time across the plasma gap. The plasma device simulated in the given arrangement was constructed and used for biocompatible antibacterial/antimicrobial coating of plasmonic particle aerosol and compared with the coating strategy of the DBD plasma jet. Simulation results showed discharge consists of an electrical breakdown, occurring in each half-cycle of the AC voltage with an electron density of 1.4 × 1010 cm−3 and electric field strength of 4.5 × 105 Vm−1. With SDBD, the surface coating comprises spatially distributed particles of mean size 29 (11) nm, while with argon plasma jet, the nanoparticles are aggregated in clusters that are three times larger in size. Both coatings are crystalline and exhibit plasmonic features in the visible spectral region. It is expected that the particle aerosols are collected under the ionic wind, induced by the plasma electric fields, and it is assumed that this follows the dominant charging mechanisms of ions diffusion. The cold plasma strategy is appealing in a sense; it opens new venues at the nanoscale to deal with biomedical and surgical devices in a flexible processing environment.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical–Computational Study of Atmospheric DBD Plasma and Its Utility for Nanoscale Biocompatible Plasmonic Coating

Raffi

et al. 2021

Molecules

“…Nedyalkov et al [23] studied APLD of Au NP films by reducing the target-substrate to 5 mm, and nano-porous films were synthesised. Khan et al [24] showed that by using a jet of Ar gas directed across the ablation target it was possible to deposit silver NP films at up to 20 mm from the target in Ar at atmospheric pressure, and these films were effective for SERS. Cavaliere et al [25] have recently carried out fs-PLD of TiO 2 at ambient pressure and room temperature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal Nanoparticle Film Deposition by Femtosecond Laser Ablation at Atmospheric Pressure

2020

Nanoparticle gold films were deposited using femtosecond laser ablation in argon at atmospheric pressure in an arrangement where a flat Au target was irradiated through a transparent substrate in close proximity. Spatially extended films were made by rastering the target and substrate assembly together in the laser beam. Fast imaging clearly showed pronounced narrowing of the ablation plume, which can be understood in terms of laser induced multiphoton ionisation and heating of the gas near the ablation site. Deposition was possible for target-substrate separation up to 2 mm. The equivalent thickness of the nanoparticle film was controlled in the range 0.4–28 nm by changing the target-substrate separation and the shot-to-shot spacing of ablation spot raster. The mean Feret diameter varied in the range 14–40 nm depending on the deposition conditions, and all the films showed a surface plasmon resonance at about 525 nm, which was nearly independent of the equivalent thickness. The technique can readily be applied to other materials for the fabrication of nanoparticulate films at atmospheric pressure.

“…14 Thus for APLD, the density of laser-produced plasma plume is several orders of magnitude higher than encountered for a low-pressure plasma in vacuum or background gas. 24,25 For the typical laser fluence value 1.4 J cm −2 , the plasma plume moves pretty slowly, typically at a velocity of 5 × 10 2 ms −1 compared to 1 to 3 × 10 4 ms −1 in a vacuum. 24 The ablation plume is thus spatially confined and leads to the formation of NPs in the vicinity close to the target surface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Silver nanoparticle films by flowing gas atmospheric pulsed laser deposition and application to surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Khan²,

et al. 2020

Int J Energy Res

For the fast uptake into industrial applications, the further development of robust methods of nanomaterials, which are inexpensive and simultaneously technologically feasible, is one of the major key factors. A newly introduced atmospheric pulsed laser deposition method, based on a flowing gas approach, was used for plasmonic metal nanoparticle (NP) film of silver. Contrary to vacuum, in this method, the ambient air restricts expansion of the ablation plume within 1 to 3 mm above the target surface. These sets constrain on the formation of NP film close to the ablation spot. For deposition on a widely spaced surface, ablation material was entrained in a flow of argon, supplied at $32 ms −1 , and effectively delivered to the substrate at $20 ms −1. The films produced were crystalline and particulate in nature, showing spectral plasmonic feature of surface plasmon resonance in the visible region. The film was directly tested in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for chemical detection of crystal violet; the film with large particulates and aggregated crystallites was well-performed, showing enhanced Raman signals and detection sensitivity. Certainly, flowing gas atmospheric pulsed laser deposition seems a fast alternative to vacuum-pulsed laser deposition but needs further investigations to bring it in the industry for applications in sensor, catalysis, solar cell, and coating technology.