Plasma Aided Nanofabrication

In this single work to cover the use of plasma as nanofabrication tool in sufficient depth internationally renowned authors with much experience in this important method of nanofabrication look at reactive plasma as a nanofabrication tool, plasma production and development of plasma sources, as well as such applications as carbon-based nanostructures, low-dimensional quantum confinement structures and hydroxyapatite bioceramics. Written principally for solid state physicists and chemists, materials scientists, and plasma physicists, the book concludes with the outlook for such applications.

Filling the need for a single work specifically addressing how to use plasma for the fabrication of nanoscale structures, this book is the first to cover plasma deposition in sufficient depth. The author has worked with numerous R&D institutions around the world, and here he begins with an introductory overview of plasma processing at micro- and nanoscales, as well as the current problems and challenges, before going on to address surface preparation, generation and diagnostics, transport and the manipulation of nano units.

Plasma-based techniques are widely and successfully used across the field of materials processing, advanced nanosynthesis, and nanofabrication. The diversity of currently available processing architectures based on or enhanced by the use of plasmas is vast, and one can easily get lost in the opportunities presented by each of these configurations. This mini-book provides a concise outline of the most important concepts and architectures in plasma-assisted processing of materials, helping the reader navigate through the fundamentals of plasma system selection and optimization. Architectures discussed in this book range from the relatively simple, user-friendly types of plasmas produced using direct current, radio-frequency, microwave, and arc systems, to more sophisticated advanced systems based on incorporating and external substrate architectures, and complex control mechanisms of configured magnetic fields and distributed plasma sources.

We are at a critical evolutionary juncture in the research and development of low-temperature plasmas, which have become essential to synthesizing and processing vital nanoscale materials. More and more industries are increasingly dependent on plasma technology to develop integrated small-scale devices, but physical limits to growth, and other challenges, threaten progress. Plasma Processing of Nanomaterials is an in-depth guide to the art and science of plasma-based chemical processes used to synthesize, process, and modify various classes of nanoscale materials such as nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and semiconductor nanowires. Plasma technology enables a wide range of academic and industrial applications in fields including electronics, textiles, automotives, aerospace, and biomedical. A prime example is the semiconductor industry, in which engineers revolutionized microelectronics by using plasmas to deposit and etch thin films and fabricate integrated circuits. An overview of progress and future potential in plasma processing, this reference illustrates key experimental and theoretical aspects by presenting practical examples of: Nanoscale etching/deposition of thin films Catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires Silicon nanoparticle synthesis Functionalization of carbon nanotubes Self-organized nanostructures Significant advances are expected in nanoelectronics, photovoltaics, and other emerging fields as plasma technology is further optimized to improve the implementation of nanomaterials with well-defined size, shape, and composition. Moving away from the usual focus on wet techniques embraced in chemistry and physics, the author sheds light on pivotal breakthroughs being made by the smaller plasma community. Written for a diverse audience working in fields ranging from nanoelectronics and energy sensors to catalysis and nanomedicine, this resource will help readers improve development and application of nanomaterials in their own work. About the Author: R. Mohan Sankaran received the American Vacuum Society’s 2011 Peter Mark Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to tandem plasma synthesis.

Filling the need for a single work specifically addressing how to use plasma for the fabrication of nanoscale structures, this book is the first to cover plasma deposition in sufficient depth. The author has worked with numerous R&D institutions around the world, and here he begins with an introductory overview of plasma processing at micro- and nanoscales, as well as the current problems and challenges, before going on to address surface preparation, generation and diagnostics, transport and the manipulation of nano units.

Technical plasmas have a wide range of industrial applications. The Encyclopedia of Plasma Technology covers all aspects of plasma technology from the fundamentals to a range of applications across a large number of industries and disciplines. Topics covered include nanotechnology, solar cell technology, biomedical and clinical applications, electronic materials, sustainability, and clean technologies. The book bridges materials science, industrial chemistry, physics, and engineering, making it a must have for researchers in industry and academia, as well as those working on application-oriented plasma technologies. Also Available Online This Taylor & Francis encyclopedia is also available through online subscription, offering a variety of extra benefits for researchers, students, and librarians, including: Citation tracking and alerts Active reference linking Saved searches and marked lists HTML and PDF format options Contact Taylor and Francis for more information or to inquire about subscription options and print/online combination packages. US: (Tel) 1.888.318.2367; (E-mail) [email protected] International: (Tel) +44 (0) 20 7017 6062; (E-mail) [email protected]

Intended to update scientists and engineers on the current state of the art in a variety of key techniques used extensively in the fabrication of structures at the nanoscale. The present work covers the essential technologies for creating sub 25 nm features lithographically, depositing layers with nanometer control, and etching patterns and structures at the nanoscale. A distinguishing feature of this book is a focus not on extension of microelectronics fabrication, but rather on techniques applicable for building NEMS, biosensors, nanomaterials, photonic crystals, and other novel devices and structures that will revolutionize society in the coming years.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to a recently-developed approach to the growth mechanism of thin films and nanostructures via chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Starting from the underlying principles of the low pressure synthesis of diamond films, it is shown that diamond growth occurs not by individual atoms but by charged nanoparticles. This newly-discovered growth mechanism turns out to be general to many CVD and some physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes. This non-classical crystallization is a new paradigm of crystal growth, with active research taking place on growth in solution, especially in biomineralization processes. Established understanding of the growth of thin films and nanostructures is based around processes involving individual atoms or molecules. According to the author’s research over the last two decades, however, the generation of charged gas phase nuclei is shown to be the rule rather than the exception in the CVD process, and charged gas phase nuclei are actively involved in the growth of films or nanostructures. This new understanding is called the theory of charged nanoparticles (TCN). This book describes how the non-classical crystallization mechanism can be applied to the growth of thin films and nanostructures in gas phase synthesis. Based on the author’s graduate lecture course, the book is aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate students and researchers in the field of thin film and nanostructure growth or crystal growth. It is hoped that a new understanding of the growth processes of thin films and nanostructures will reduce trial-and-error in research and in industrial fabrication processes.