Simulation of Nanofilm Formation in Low-Temperature Plasmas

Metal-polymer nanocomposites are of growing interest in many fields because the diverse physical features of their constituents allow for the production of materials with interesting novel properties. Recent experiments [1] and simulations [2,3,4] have shown that co-evaporation of the metallic and organic components in a simple single-step process can give rise to the formation of ultrahigh-density Fe-Ni-Co nanocolumnar structures embedded in a fluoropolymer matrix. We show new results from kinetic Monte Carlo simulations that are expected to answer the question whether similar structures can also be produced in a plasma environment with an enhanced influence of surface defects.\\[4pt] [1] Greve et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 123103 (2006)\newline [2] L. Rosenthal et al., J. Appl. Phys. 144, 044305 (2013)\newline [3] L. Rosenthal et al., Contrib. Plasma Phys. 51, 971 (2011)\newline [4] Chapter in ``Complex Plasmas: Scientific Challenges and Technological Opportunities,'' Michael Bonitz, Jose Lopez, Kurt Becker and Hauke Thomsen (Eds.), Springer Series on Atomic, Optical, and Plasma Physics, Volume 82 2014