Dielectric Barrier Discharge plasma for the developing of industrial process at atmospheric pressure (DBD-Tech)
 Financial source:Junta de Andalucía Code: P12-FQM-2265 (Proyecto de Excelencia) |
Research head: Period: Research group: |
This research project aims first the study of different unknown basic aspects of the construction of the dielectric barrier discharge, better design conditions for: barrier electrodes, the design of the metallic electrodes and dielectrics and to know the best working conditions (size and operation frequency) for the plasma. One goal is to control the lateral functionalization of advanced materials and other objective, is the discovering of new plasma catalysis processes that can increase selectivity and the reduction of energy consumption by plasma chemical reactions in controlled industrial processes of high added value and/or impact. It is expected for both applications, a clear advance in optimization of the industrial process.
Process-control in plasmas for the synthesis of nanostructured thin films (PLASMATER)
| Financial source: Junta de Andalucía Code: P09-FQM-6900 (Proyecto de Excelencia) |
Research head: Period: Research group: |
Project PLASMATER aims at developing new plasma-based procedures to control the nanostructure, porosity and morphology of deposited thin films, and optimize the material functionalities and applications. From an experimental point of view, plasma-assisted thin film deposition techniques make use of various quantities to define the deposition conditions, such as the electromagnetic power, pressure in the reactor, etc. These quantities controls the plasma properties, which at the same time conditions the growth mechanism of the films. The complexity of the relation between experimentally controllable quantities and growth processes has produced the existence of empirical relations between experimental conditions and final film structure and composition, whose justification from a fundamental point of view is unclear.
In PLASMATER we propose to analyze three related aspects of the deposition of TiO2 and ZnO thin films assisted by plasmas: i) complete diagnosis of the plasma bulk and sheath in connection with the material microstructure, ii) functionality of the material, and iii) the de-velopment of predictive numerical codes that calculate the final film microstructure as a func-tion of experimentally controllable quantities. This last part is of relevance because to our knowledge, i) it is the first time in the literature the deposition is fully characterized from a fundamental point of view, ii) this knowledge can be applied to suggest modifications in the deposition reactor in order to enhance different structural properties of the films.
In order to carry out the PLASMATER project, we aim at following at mixed theoretical and experimental strategy in order to interactively develop numerical codes of the thin film growth in multiple conditions. All the spatial scales involved in the description must be studied, from the plasma bulk itself (typically of few tens cm), the plasma sheath (below 1 mm), and the surface of the material (tens nm). Advanced diagnosis techniques will be employed to understand the plasma behavior and the film growth. Finally, PLASMATER will focus on the experimental conditions that lead to an optimized performance of the studied materials for advance applications in technology and industry.
Polymeric and hybrid nanocomposite thin films for photonic and photovoltaic applications (NANOPHOTON)
| Financial source: Junta de Andalucía Code: P09-TEP-5283 (Proyecto de Excelencia) |
Research head: Period: Research group: |
The Nanophoton project aims the development of a novel family of materials, struc-tures and device prototypes for application in solar energy, environmental sensing and space communication technology. The starting point of the project is the research in the photonic properties of hybrid nanometric films. These functional thin films will be processed and inte-grated in optical structures. The project encompasses fundamental molecular simulation studies, the development of novel nanometric functional structures, the study of suitable processing/integration procedures and the validation of prototype devices. These devices will be of three kinds: photonic gas sensors, detectors insensitive to the angle of detection for diffuse optical communications and photovoltaic cells. An interesting characteristic of the Nanophoton technology will be its fully compatibility with the current optoelectronic and microelectronic industrial manufacturing processes.
Development of bones regeneration membranes modified at nanometric scale (OSTEOMEM)
| Financial source: Junta de Andalucía Code: P09-CTS-5189 (Proyecto de Excelencia) |
Research head: Period: Research group: |
OSTEOMEM aims at developing disposable and biodegradable membranes for bone regeneration to be use in chirurgic oral and maxillofacial implants for the treatment of defects. During the healing of the bone defects, membranes must simultaneously preserve the formation of soft tissues and promote the filling of the hole by the new bone, so that, after the reabsorption of the membrane, the structure of tissues would be similar to that prior to the chirurgical intervention. To achieve that, the membranes should degrade within the body in a period of four-six months, thus avoiding the need of a second intervention required to remove non-biodegradable membranes. It is expected that the membranes developed in the project are comparable to that of animal membranes and avoid the problems associated with the use of these latter.
Nitrogen Plasmas for the superficial functionalization of materials
| Financial source: Junta de Andalucía Code: P07-FQM-03298 (Proyecto de Excelencia) |
Research head: Period: Research group: |
The project PlasNitro discusses the characterization of nitrogen plasmas in various technological related applications with techniques of deposition and functionalization of materials, reforming and processes of sterilization. Different procedures to measure properties of plasmas will go down to point, plasma that can be used in doping, deposition, functionalization and modification of materials and that contain nitrogen. In all cases by using techniques of diagnosis based in the detection of nitrogen species. Nitrogen is a usual component nowadays, only or in mixtures with other gases, in a lot of processes used in technology of plasma. Its experimental characterization and/or the modeling will allow getting fundamental properties from plasma (electron density, electron temperature, temperature of the gas, reactive species, etc.) and knowing the contribution to the homogenous (in phase plasma) and heterogeneous (in the surface-material interaction) reactions of the appropriate components of nitrogen. Numerical codes to get out the electron energy distribution function in plasma will become elaborate in the project. To this end the evaluation of the vibrational distribution of nitrogen will be necessary previously. This step implies taking into account multiple vibrational-vibrational processes, vibrational-translactional and vibrational-rotational processes. In the project we will be able to obtain models of fluid of the nitrogen plasma with the contributions of the most important species of the plasma. The theoretical calculations will be complemented with experimental measurements using electrostatic Langmuir’s probe, this will allow measuring the electron energy distribution function, as well as density and temperature of the electrons. The partial nitrogen pressure in each application and the plasma’s neutral components will be controlled by means of an analysis of residual gases. The kinetic modeling of the nitrogen plasma will enable the interpretation of measurements in the plasma out of the thermodynamic equilibrium and by using the Monte Carlo technique of simulation that enable the control of deposition/modification and the nano/microstructure of the materials. We will have, in this way, techniques that they will enable to control themselves and improving the procedures of work and the properties desired in the materials.