Non-equilibrium plasmas offer unique processing environments to synthesize materials with exotic properties not achievable with other methodologies [1-3]. More specifically, atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasmas are attractive for their non-vacuum operation, which can facilitate and reduce the costs of their integration in manufacturing steps [4].

In this contribution, the use of atmospheric pressure plasmas to explore new materials and tailor their properties will be presented, including opportunities offered through defect creation, surface engineering, doping and ‘cluster-doping’ [5-6].

The control of materials properties at the synthesis stage are of fundamental importance for applications and therefore examples of plasma-based device fabrication will be described [7]. For instance, this contribution will include aspects that relate to plasma synthesis of nanofluids for solar-thermal energy conversion, functionalization of catalytic surfaces as well as fabrication of solar cells [4, 5, 8, 9].

Finally, the challenges associated with the transformation of a synthesis process into a viable and sustainable manufacturing step will also be discussed in the context of specific energy-related applications.

References:

[1] AJ Wagner et al. Physical Review E 80 (2009) 065401
[2] S Ghosh et al. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 48 (2015) 314003
[3] P Maguire et al. Nano Letters 17 (2017) 1336
[4] D Mariotti et al. Plasma Processes and Polymers 13 (2016) 70
[5] Khalid et al. Advanced Energy Materials 12 (2022) 2201131
[6] V Švrček et al. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 43 (2010) 415402
[7] D Sun et al. Composites Science and Technology 186 (2020) 107911
[8] HS Moghaieb et al. Nanomaterials 13 (2023) 1232
[9] V Švrček et al. Chemical Physics Letters 478 (2009) 224