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Particle trapping, size-filtering, and focusing in the nonthermal plasma synthesis of sub-10 nanometer particles
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Particle trapping, size-filtering, and focusing in the nonthermal plasma synthesis of sub-10 nanometer particles

Zichang Xiong, Steven Lanham, Eric Husmann, Gunnar Nelson, Mohammad Ali Eslamisaray, Jordyn Polito, Yaling Liu, John Goree, Elijah Thimsen, Mark J. Kushner, …
Journal of physics. D, Applied physics, Vol.55(23), p.235202
06/09/2022
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/ac57de
url
https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1979267View
Open Access

Abstract

Low-pressure nonthermal flowing plasmas are widely used for the gas-phase synthesis of nanoparticles and quantum dots of materials that are difficult or impractical to synthesize using other techniques. To date, the impact of temporary electrostatic particle trapping in these plasmas has not been recognized, a process that may be leveraged to control particle properties. Here, we present experimental and computational evidence that, during their growth in the plasma, sub-10 nm silicon particles become temporarily confined in an electrostatic trap in radio-frequency excited plasmas until they grow to a size at which the increasing drag force imparted by the flowing gas entrains the particles, carrying them out of the trap. We demonstrate that this trapping enables the size filtering of the synthesized particles, leading to highly monodisperse particle sizes, as well as the electrostatic focusing of the particles onto the reactor centerline. Understanding of the mechanisms and utilization of such particle trapping will enable the design of plasma processes with improved size control and the ability to grow heterostructured nanoparticles.
Physical Sciences Physics Physics, Applied Science & Technology

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