3D structure and dynamics of plasma-treated polymer materials

• Applicant: Dr. Mirko Nitschke
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 445857685

Low pressure plasma techniques are well-known as versatile tools for the treatment of polymeric materials. A wide range of physical and chemical modification effects can be achieved in the near-surface region while the volume characteristics are preserved. However, this way of looking at things is severely limited with respect to actual depth profiles of material properties which are often neither known quantitatively nor utilized to full capacity. The proposed research project sets out to overcome this limitation by looking in detail at exemplary and application-relevant cases. A range of complementary and partly new surface diagnostic techniques, capable of depth profiling on a sub-micron scale, is employed to demonstrate additional degrees of freedom for surface and interface engineering of polymeric materials.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants