Original scientific paper
Showcase of tools for preparing, modifying and describing thin films for energy conversion devices with special attention on plasma phenomenology
Floren Radovanović-Perić
; Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana Panžić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
Arijeta Bafti
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Rukavina
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
Andrea Jurov
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
Vilko Mandić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
This paper draws attention to the wide range of capacities of the Group, including chemical and physical deposition, modification and processing techniques, and advanced characterisations. In particular, this work demystifies the new plasma discharge method for the synthesis of thin films, which is still under development. Specifically, the coupled spark plasma ablation deposition (SPAD) can be performed at almost ambient conditions in various configurations with respect to several deposition reactors, proving powerful, versatile, green, and easy to-use nature of the method. Composition-wise, up to 4 element material can be derived combining pure electrodes, however the derived composition can be broader when using alloy electrodes. It is indisputable that SPAD is capable of producing thin films at a significantly reduced cost compared to other methods which we want to put in use for the constituent layers of the last generation of energy conversion devices. Generally, the SPAD optimization envelope heavily differs for the case of intended products: nanoparticle vs thin film, or metal vs metal oxide, or crystalline vs amorphous. Here, we will provide a more detailed description of the ablation parameters that are necessary to achieve the various crystallinities of nanomaterials. Copper nanoparticles and thin films were derived via SPAD and additionally thermally treated. (Micro)structural and thermal evolution points out to interesting development of the surface morphologies. In addition, the results enabled the correlation between oxygen plasma concentration and order of crystallinity in the thin films.
Keywords
spark ablation; plasma; nanomaterial; thin film; copper oxide
Hrčak ID:
317851
URI
Publication date:
23.10.2023.
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