Non-chemical approach toward 2D self-assemblies of Ag nanoparticles via cold plasmatreatment of substrates

Abstract

The nano-modification of selected substrates by means of atmospheric cold plasmatreatment was exploited for the two-dimensional (2D) self-assembling of silver nanoparticles(Ag NPs). Such a useful combination of the cold plasma treatment of substrate surface andan immediate easy deposition of Ag NPs creating the 2D self-assemblies on the substratesis published for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Except for the cold plasmatreatment, mainly the following parameters influenced the resulting NP assemblies: thechoice of solvent mixture, concentration of Ag NP dispersions, and the depositiontechnique. The 2D self-assemblies of Ag NPs, providing the same work function as a Agelectrode, were formed on the cold plasma-treated substrates when a drop-castingtechnique was employed. The possibility of an easy preparation of the Ag NP 2Dself-assemblies on substrates without using any chemical agents and/or evaporatingchamber could be exploited, e.g. in photovoltaic and light-emitting diode devices.