Synthesis and Deposition of Metal Nanoparticles by Gas Phase Condensation Process

In this work, a process which allows the production of nanoparticles in a vacuum environment is described. In the deposition machine, metal and inorganic composite particles can be generated through a plasma-based gas phase condensation process, using a modified gas flow sputter source. Besides, the gas phase condensation source is linked to a PECVD unit by a rotating sample holder, so that, by the combination of the two processes, the deposition of nanocomposite coatings consisting of metallic nanoparticles embedded in a thin film matrix material is also possible. The tool was used for the deposition of Pt and Ag nanoparticles onTiO2 thin films in order to improve its photocatalytic activity. Moreover, by embedding Ag nanoparticles in plasma polymers, layers for thin film plasmonic coatings could be fabricated

Plasma deposition of silver nanoparticles on ultrafiltration membranes: antibacterial and antibiofouling properties

tA novel and versatile plasma reactor was used to modify polyethersulphone commercial membranes. The equipmentwas applied to: (i) functionalize the membranes with low-temperature plasmas, (ii) deposit a film of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) and, (iii) deposit silver nanopar-ticles (SNP) by gas flow sputtering. Each modification process was performed in the same reactor consecutively,without exposure of the membranes to atmospheric air. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electronmicroscopy were used to characterize the particles and modified membranes. SNP are evenly distributed on the mem-brane surface. Particle fixation and transport inside membranes were assessed before- and after-washing assays byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling analysis. PMMA addition improved SNP fixation. Plasma-treatedmembranes showed higher hydrophilicity. Anti-biofouling activity was successfully achieved against Gram-positive(Enterococcus faecalis) and -negative (Salmonella) Typhimurium bacteria. Therefore, disinfection by ultrafiltrationshowed substantial resistance to biofouling. The post-synthesis functionalization process developed provides a moreefficient fabrication route for anti-biofouling and anti-bacterial membranes used in the water treatment field. To thebest of our knowledge, this is the first report of a gas phase condensation process combined with a PECVD procedurein order to deposit SNP on commercial membranes to inhibit biofouling formation.Fil: Cruz, Mercedes Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones Para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones Para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Ruano Sandoval, Gonzalo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Wolf, Marcus. Institut Für Festkörperelektronik; AlemaniaFil: Hecker, Dominic. Institut Für Festkörperelektronik; AlemaniaFil: Castro Vidaurre, Elza Fani. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones Para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones Para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Schmittgens, Ralph. Institut Für Festkörperelektronik; AlemaniaFil: Rajal, Verónica Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones Para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones Para la Industria Química; Argentin