NIBEC have developed systems for studying the interaction of low temperature plasmas with liquid droplets leading to interesting discoveries in microreactor chemistry for high synthesis rate growth of monosized nanoparticles.
Plasma – droplet interactions have enabled the creation of highly charged micron-sized droplets which are proving to be an invaluable tool for the study of ultra-low energy electrons (< 1 eV) and short-lived radicals directly interacting with living cells.
The design and integration of microplasmas with microfluidics and microfabrication is now opening up opportunities for developing new clinical and environmental lab on chip devices. Examples include real-time airborne pathogen detection and remote deep-ocean CO2 chemical analysis.
Atmospheric pressure plasma synthesis of nanomaterials and/or atomic scale surface engineering offers opportunities for new nanomaterials, surfactant and ligand free synthesis, new delivery mechanisms to substrate, device or biological tissue.