Challenges in the deposition of plasma polymer nanoparticles using gas aggregation source: Rebounding upon impact and how to land them on a substrate

Abstract

AbstractPlasma polymer nanoparticles (pp‐NPs) are relatively easy to produce by plasma‐based gas aggregation sources. However, as experimentally evidenced in this study for the case of C:H:N:O pp‐NPs, pp‐NPs are unlike metal/metal oxide nanoparticles prone to reflection from the substrate if they hit it with too high a speed. This may result in little or no deposition rate even though the nanoparticle beam is very intense. As is shown, the deposition of pp‐NPs can be promoted either by the adjustment of their speed before they reach the substrate or by a proper selection of a substrate. Concerning the latter, enhanced capturing of pp‐NPs was observed on structured or liquid substrates.