A new approach for synthesizing plasmonic polymer nanocomposite thin films by combining a gold salt aerosol and an atmospheric pressure low-temperature plasma

Abstract The proof of the concept a new, onestep and safe by design process to synthesize metal-polymer nanocomposites thin films on large surface is presented. It based injection an aerosol solution metal (gold) salts dissolved in polymerizable solvent (isopropanol) into argon atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge. main novelty this method resides fact that nanoparticles are formed situ, inside plasma reactor, gas phase. Consequently, nanoparticle synthesis deposition concomitant with polymerization used produce matrix, which makes it possible obtain homogeneous layers non-agglomerated (NPs) high NPs density. By toggling between low high-frequency discharges, gold/polymer different morphologies optical properties synthesized. effect concentration gold residence time as well ratio low-frequency discharge their repetition rate systematically characterized AFM UV–visible spectroscopy analyze along plasmonic resonances.