Scope
Low-temperature plasmas are playing an increasing role in bottom-up approaches to nanotechnology, providing a unique chemical environment for the synthesis, functionalization, and assembly of nanoscale materials (i.e. nanomaterials). In particular, the non-equilibrium and non-thermal characteristics of plasmas allow dissociation of relatively stable molecular precursors, nucleation of nanomaterials both homogeneously and heterogeneously, and rapid growth even at relatively low temperatures
However, low-temperature plasmas are extremely complex, containing electrons, ions, metastables, and radical moieties, each with their own energies and reactivities, as well as ultraviolet radiation and thermal energy. For this reason, while much progress has been made in producing a wide range of useful nanomaterials, fundamental understanding of the plasma process remains elusive and control of the environment to tune the structure and properties of nanomaterials is still a challenge.
This special issue of Plasma Sources Science and Technology sheds light on recent efforts to answer scientific questions related to low-temperature plasmas in nanomaterials synthesis, while also revealing future directions for this field.
Web page: https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0963-0252/page/Special-issue-on-plasmas-in-nanoscience