Direct nanoparticle coating using atmospheric plasma jet

A new method that can simultaneously fabricate and deposit nanoparticles using an atmospheric pressure plasma has been investigated. To fabricate and deposit nanoparticles simultaneously on a material surface, a dielectric barrier-type plasma jet using noble gases such as He was used, and the material to be deposited was used as the center power electrode for the plasma jet. It is found that when Ag and Pd were used as the center electrode of the pressure plasma jet, Ag and Pd nanoparticles with diameters 1–8 nm and 1–3 nm, respectively, could be successfully fabricated and deposited onto the substrates without using any precursor, reducing agent, or dispersing agent. The textile surface directly coated with Ag nanoparticles using the plasma jet also passed antibacterial, deodorization, and antifungal tests, similar to the textile coated with Ag nanoparticles using conventional methods. The atmospheric pressure plasma jet method can be also used to fabricate and deposit nanoparticles from many different materials simultaneously, in addition to Ag and Pd, in an eco-friendly and rapid manner.