Plasma based nanoparticle synthesis: from preparation to function

Abstract

In this paper, we report on a recent progress in formation and deposition of NPs by the gas aggregation method. Examples range from noble (Au, Ag), through reactive (Al) to more advanced core-shell nanostructures [4]. The influence of experimental conditions on the physical, chemical and optical properties of NPs is discussed in details. However, despite intensive research over the years, the processes inside the GAS are not fully understood yet due to limited accessibility of the plasma volume. Here we propose an approach for in-situ monitoring of growth of metal NPs, exhibiting plasmon resonance, using UV-Vis spectroscopy. In addition to the fundamental studies of plasma based NP synthesis, we also show an example of functional applications of clusters and NPs for the UV sensors based on Ag-functionalized TiO2 thin film.