DEPOSITION OF NANOSTRUCTURED FILMS
Nanostructured materials are nowadays experiencing a spreading expansion from a technological and industrial point of view. PLUME technology allows depositing nanostructured films with a control on chemical composition, morphology and porosity on a nano scale.
Films made of metals or metal oxides are performed, finding applications in material science, energy conversion and storage, in catalysis and photocatalysis.
DEPOSITION OF NANOSTRUCTURED FILMS
Nanostructured materials are nowadays experiencing a spreading expansion from a technological and industrial point of view. PLUME technology allows depositing nanostructured films with a control on chemical composition, morphology and porosity on a nano scale.
Films made of metals or metal oxides are performed, finding applications in material science, energy conversion and storage, in catalysis and photocatalysis.
DEPOSITION OF THIN FILMS AND SURFACE TREATMENT
Atmospheric plasma coatings on various materials, like fabrics, films and packaging for foods, papers, coupled films, could be performed. Coatings allow to confer specific properties to the product, like gas barrier, anti-fog, release, anti-bacterial, and to enhance some surface characteristics like wettability, printing, hydrophobicity, with none alteration of volume and mechanical properties.
Plasma allows micrometre scale cleaning of surfaces, enhancing the adhesion of resins and conventional coatings.
3D OBJECTS PLASMA TREATMENT
Plasma treatments are performed on 3D objects with different nature, shape and dimension. Treatments are durable and the processes are fast. We use cold plasma sources to modify different surface properties, without altering colour, breathability, or other material properties. No water or solvents are used and the treatments can be localized or extended to the entire object surface.
3D OBJECTS PLASMA TREATMENT
Plasma treatments are performed on 3D objects with different nature, shape and dimension. Treatments are durable and the processes are fast. We use cold plasma sources to modify different surface properties, without altering colour, breathability, or other material properties. No water or solvents are used and the treatments can be localized or extended to the entire object surface.
Unlike hot plasma (millions of kelvins), which constitutes Stars, or plasma torches, that are used for metal cutting (up to thousands of kelvins), plasmas that PLUME offer for surface functionalization are cold, with temperature in the range of 20-50 °C.
PLUME offers to its customers the following types of cold plasma, depending on specific needs:
SUPERSONIC PLASMA
Cold low pressure plasma is used for the deposition of nanostructured films which find application in photovoltaic and photo-catalysis field, energy storage and photonics. By means of supersonic jet plasma deposition it is possible to tightly control chemical purity and morphology of the films, through the separation of chemical reactions and nucleation, and film growth on the substrate
ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA
Non thermal atmospheric plasma techniques are ideal for the coating deposition on even thermal-sensible flexible or rigid substrates, and also for their functionalization. Plasma processes are able to modify surface properties without altering volume and mechanical properties. Atmospheric plasma promotes coating and nano-coating adhesion, thanks to the modification of surface tension
LOW PRESSURE PLASMA
Non thermal low pressure plasma techniques can be used both for surface cleaning and thin film deposing on different substrates: flat materials, 3D objects and powders. Low pressure plasma process allow to functionalize material surface in order to change the intended use of the product
SUPERSONIC PLASMA
Cold low pressure plasma is used for the deposition of nanostructured films which find application in photovoltaic and photo-catalysis field, energy storage and photonics. By means of supersonic jet plasma deposition it is possible to tightly control chemical purity and morphology of the films, through the separation of chemical reactions and nucleation, and film growth on the substrate
ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA
Non thermal atmospheric plasma techniques are ideal for the coating deposition on even thermal-sensible flexible or rigid substrates, and also for their functionalization. Plasma processes are able to modify surface properties without altering volume and mechanical properties. Atmospheric plasma promotes coating and nano-coating adhesion, thanks to the modification of surface tension
LOW PRESSURE PLASMA
Non thermal low pressure plasma techniques can be used both for surface cleaning and thin film deposing on different substrates: flat materials, 3D objects and powders. Low pressure plasma process allow to functionalize material surface in order to change the intended use of the product
HOW WE TRY TO IMITATE THE NATURE?
In the natural world, a lot of surface properties derive from particular microscopic configurations and from the surface chemical properties. An example are the super-hydro repellence surface of some particular leafs, among which the most famous is the lotus leaf. The chemical properties of the wax coating of lotus leaf, in synergy with their particular surface micro morphology result in the fact that a drop of water, falling on the leaf, becomes almost spherical in shape, rolling off without wetting the surface. This is a super hydro repellent surface.
By observing at the microscope the natural elements, which show this particular property, it is possible to understand which factors determine the surface properties, so the microscopic surface morphology and chemical properties.
It is possible to reproduce this phenomenon in our lab, by using plasma processes, creating super hydro repellent surfaces by means of deposition of very thin invisible coatings (in the order of some millionths of millimetres). For example, we can deposit a coating on fabric surface, which modifies the chemical properties and at the same time the micro scale surface structure, while the texture of the fabric remain unaltered. In some cases natural fibres yet show useful microscopic structures, so with plasma we just have to modify chemical properties, like deposing a coating or binding molecules which give hydro repellence to the surface. Other surfaces, like those of plastics, are typically smooth, so in order to modify wettability it is necessary to donate some micro-roughness. This could be achieved by means of plasma treatment, making some engraving or adding nano-sized or micro-sized materials.
WHAT IS PLASMA?
Plasma is a chemically reactive gas constituted by molecules, atoms and charged particles (electrons and ions). These charges promote molecule dissociation enabling the formation of new chemical species. These species interact with the substrate surface, promoting chemical grafting, etching of species from the surface and the deposition of coatings.
When a surface has been modified by, its functional properties change, but the volume properties remain the same. The new surface allows changing the intended use of the starting material, or it enhances its workability in the productive process or it donates completely new properties.
WHY PLASMA TECHNOLOGIES ARE GREEN?
Plasma is comparable to a gas, so plasma processes do not use water or organic solvents.
The required energy for the treatments is reduced as well as the coating material costs, as the plasma coating are micrometres thick, largely lower with respect to conventional ones.
