Surface Functionalization of Polymers under Cold Plasma Conditions-A Mechanistic Approach.

Cold plasma conditions offer a novel route for synthesizing and depositing macromolecular structures on various organic and inorganic surfaces, and to functionalize in a controlled manner even the most inert polymeric substrates. The energies of active species of plasma are high enough to split all chemical bonds from organic and organometallic derivatives and consequently, tailored macromolecular structures can be created through controlled recombination of plasma generated charged and neutral molecular fragments. Non- macromolecular forming active species of organic- or inorganic-origin can interact with polymeric surfaces creating desired, new thin layer structures through in situ or ex-situ recombination mechanisms initiated between the plasma generated active sites of the condensed and gaseous phases. Understanding the plasma induced reaction mechanisms developed in the gas phase and on the surfaces which limit the discharge opens up rational ways to create materials with advanced surface characteristic, such as chemical inertness, advanced hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, selective reactivity (molecular recognition), intense surface roughness, etc.