Plasmas - Processes - Surfaces group

Low presure DC diode N₂-H₂-Ar plasma

Plasma electrolytic oxidation

Microwave plasma torch at atmospheric pressure

Last publications

Structural characteristics of Bi₂O₂CO₃ nanosheets synthesized by nano-pulsed discharges in water
A V Nomine, J. Ghanbaja, A. Redjaimia, T. Belmonte
Journal of Applied Crystallography, 2025, 57 (5), pp.1456-1465. ⟨10.1107/S1600576724007672⟩
Non-thermal plasma etching of MOF thin films in high optical quality for interference sensing
Pavel Alekseevskiy, Maria Timofeeva, Semyon Bachinin, Regis Peignier, Cedric Noel, Pascal Boulet, Thierry Belmonte, Valentin Milichko
Optical Materials, 2025, 154, pp.115666. ⟨10.1016/j.optmat.2024.115666⟩
Synthesis and growth mechanism of Bi₂O₂CO₃ nanosheets by pulsed discharges in liquids
A.V. Nominé, M. Nazarov, T. Gries, C. Noel, J. Ghanbaja, A Nominé, F. Brochard, V. A. Milichko, T. Belmonte
Applied Surface Science, 2024, 674, pp.160844. ⟨10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.160844⟩

Presentation

The group Plasmas-Process-Surfaces (PPS) is interested in non-equilibrium low temperature plasmas together with their interaction with material surfaces. The scientific approach combines expertise in plasma diagnostics with competences in material science and engineering. Prime objective aims at investigating the interaction of the plasma with the surface for applications in various industrial domains like transport, energy, mechanics, and biomedical for instance.

The strategy consists in carrying out fundamental studies of the plasmas in order to describe and understand the mechanisms of functionalization of new alloys synthesis at the micro- or nanoscale.

The strength of the PPS group relies on the join expertise in both material science and plasma physics. A wide fleet of experimental rigs in plasma sources, plasma diagnostics tools, and surface characterization facilities benefits all the team members.

Leaning also on the common facilities available at IJL for material elaboration and characterization, the research activities are spread over two main topics closely linked by transverse skills in plasma diagnostics:

high pressure discharges, including atmospheric pressure plasmas and discharges in or in contact with liquids
plasma-assisted surface processing for transport and energy applications

The group develops and maintains collaborations with many academics and industrial partners in France and abroad.

Keywords

Discharges

Plasmas

Plasma diagnostics

Functionalization

Surface patterning

Surface processing

Thermochemical treatments

Nanomaterials

Research topics

High pressure discharges, including atmospheric pressure plasmas, discharges in or in contact with liquids

For many years, PPS researchers and engineers have been interested in atmospheric and sus-atmospheric pressure discharges. This is particularly the case of discharges in liquids where the pressure can be as high as several hundred bars. Under such very high-pressure conditions, collision processes strongly perturb the plasma behaviour. The study of these plasmas hence requires the development of original diagnostics tools and appropriate theories.

Plasmas in liquids of tiny size (<< 1 mm) are created by short duration high voltage pulses (typ. < 100 ns). Consequently, these discharges exhibit strong gradients (in time and space) of temperature, pressure and density, together with the development of shock waves and gas bubbles. The description of these plasmas therefore requires taking into account the dynamics of the liquid under the effect of the plasma. Because of the very high heating and cooling rates (> 10⁷ K/s), the temperature of the electrode can reach several thousands of Kelvin very locally and over very short time. The resulting modifications in the material are therefore used to perform specific surface treatments :

plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is an environmentally friendly process that can advantageously replace conventional anodising to grow protective ceramic layers (e. g. Al2O3, MgO, TiO2) onto light metallic alloys. Micro-discharges that develops over the sample surface because of the dielectric breakdown favours the in depth oxidation. The incorporation of nanoparticles into the layers via the electrolyte makes it possible to extend the range of final functional properties. PEO is an innovative process with many applications in the field of transport (lightening of structures, wear and corrosion resistance) or biomedical (biocompatible treatment of implants and orthopedic prostheses)
nanomaterial synthesis is achived by nanosecond pulsed discharges ignited in between two electrodes immersed in a dielectric liquid. The appropriate choice of electrode material and liquid, coupled with the discharge breakdown conditions, makes it possible to synthesize new materials at the nano scale with new properties for catalysis or photonics applications.

Dielectric barrier discharges are investigated for their potential in surface functionalization. Research work focuses on hybridation and functionalization of MOF materials (Metal Organic Frameworks) for their applications in hydrogen storage.

A particular interest is brought in the understanding of the physico-chemical mechanisms that occur, during the discharge pulse and the time afterglow, between the DBD-plasma and the processed material in the form of powder. Investigating the interactions of dielectric barrier discharges, in this case with MOFs, is nowadays essential to propose a fine and effective control of this type of plasma process at atmospheric pressure.

Projects:

ANR CAMFRE (2021-2025)
ANR SYNERGY (2021-2024)
ICEEL Soprodsyse (2019-2022)
PHC Pavle Savic (2020-2022)

Thesis:

Corentin Tousch (2020-2023)
Aymane Najah (2018-2021)
Anna Nominé (2020-2023)
Ronny Jean-Marie Désirée (2021-2024)
Lucas Magniez (2022-2025)

Partnerships and collaborations:

Amphenol-Socapex
CRITT TJFU
Faculty of Physics University of Belgrade (Serbie)
GéoRessources
ICSM
IRT M2P
ITMO University St Petersbourg (Russie)
LABEX DAMAS
LEM3
Radiall
Souriau-Eaton
TE-connectivity

Plasma-assisted surface processing for transport and energy applications

The PPS group is interested in societal and economical challenges, namely hydrogen production and storage, reducing the energy consumption in transport industry (automotive, aeronautics), the sustainability of materials, and the development of safer and environmentally friendly processes. To address these challenges, PPS team develops and studies various plasma assisted surface processes at low or moderate pressure:

diode DC, pulsed, DECR → thermochemical treatments
magnetron, HiPIMS, microwave, DECR → coatings and thin films
microwave, DECR → etching / surface patterning
microwave plasma afterglow, RF, DBD, arc → surface functionalization

Research works aim at providing the processed surfaces with improved or even unprecedented usage properties. Wear and corrosion resistance, optical or catalytic properties, wettability, etc. are examples of the targeted properties.

Surface patterning (combined or not combined with thermochemical treatment) is one of the major concerns of the group. Plasma processes like sputtering, diffusion treatment or etching are successfully developed to structure or pattern the surface of steels (alpha-iron, austenite, martensite). From a fundamental point of view, the study of the physical phenomena resulting from these treatments (anisotropic diffusion and deformation, uplift, etc.) will lead to major scientific advances in the surface processing domain. Combined with an improved sustainability, this innovative approach benefits a wide range of applications in self-cleaning, anti-icing, drag reduction, friction, thermal exchanges, biotechnologies, etc.

The deep investigation of the plasma parameters and properties is essential for mastering surface treatments. Therefore, the team implements process engineering approaches through the coupling between the diagnostics of plasmas and the characterization of the modified surfaces.

Projects:

ITN Flowcamp (2018-2021)
ICEEL Costhedi (2017-2021)
Interreg PULSATEC (2018-2022)
ANR SPOT (2017-2022)
ICEEL Clearer (2020-2023)
ICEEL Textir (2020-2023)
FRCR HyPE (2021 – 2023)
ANR Dropsurf (2021 – 2024)
ANR Verglas (2022 – 2025)

Thesis:

Majed Awaji (2022-2025)
Dimitri Boivin (2018-2022)
Martyna Charyton (2018-2021)
Feriel Laourine (2018-2021)
Arthur Maizeray (2020-2023)

Partnerships and collaborations:

LABEX DAMAS
AGC Europe (Belgique)
Amer-Sil (Luxembourg)
LUE ULHyS
C2N
CRITT TJFU
Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brésil)
IMN
IRT M2P
LCPME
LEM3
LEMTA
LRGP
PPrime
SILSEF
UTN-National University of Technology (Argentine)

Know-how

Plasma physics and chemistry

High and low pressure plasmas
Plasmas in liquids
Plasmas diagnostics (high resolution optical emission spectroscopy, laser spectroscopy, Langmuir probes, mass spectrometry, FTIR spectroscopy, ultra-fast video recording, micro-wave interferometry)

Plasma surface interactions

Surface functionalization, coatings (PVD, PACVD, grafting, etching, cleaning, etc.)
Thermochemical treatments (nitriding, carburizing, boriding, etc.)
Plasma-assisted surface patterning

Nanomaterial synthesis by plasma

2D materials
Nanoparticles made of non-miscible elements
Nanowires and nanotubes

Innovation and technology transfer

Process and system for the submicron structuring of a substrate surface
T. Belmonte, T.S. Amaral, T. Gries, C. Noël, R.P. Cardoso, patents WO2015052396A1, EP3055248B1, US20160247665A1, JP2017501558A, FR3011540B1
Graphite exfoliation and graphene functionalization by plasma process in liquid
S. Cuynet, M. Ponçot, S. Fontana, A. Letoffé, T. Belmonte, G. Henrion, C. Hérold, I. Royaud, Patent FR2020479
Exfoliation and graphene functionalization by plasma in liquid.
S. Fontana (leader), S. Cuynet, M. Ponçot, A. Letoffé, T. Belmonte, G. Henrion, C. Hérold, I. Royaud, Maturation project 2021, SATT SAYENS