INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE-CUM-ROUND TABLE ON TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN BEAM TECHNOLOGIES (ICTRIBT-2026)

Design and Development of a Multi-Functional DC Glow Discharge Plasma Reactor for Targeted Surface Engineering and Thin-Film Synthesis

Not scheduled

20m

Central University of Himachal Pradesh, India

Speaker

Dr Atala Bihari Panda (Birupa College (Affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneswar), Indupur , Kendrapara, Odisha)

Description

Abstract:
The transition from fundamental plasma physics to translational material science requires robust, scalable hardware capable of precise plasma-matter interactions. While plasma processing is a staple in semiconductor manufacturing, there is a lack of accessible, versatile systems capable of handling the diverse requirements of 2D/3D nanomaterials, polymers, and complex oxides in a single environment. This work presents the indigenous design and development of a Customized DC Glow Discharge Plasma Reactor optimized for the dual purpose of surface modification and plasma-assisted thin-film deposition.
This work details the design and indigenous development of a multi-functional DC Glow Discharge Plasma Reactor engineered for dual-mode operation: Surface Modification and Thin-Film Deposition. Drawing from our previous research—which demonstrated that the reactor effectively modulates the electrical conduction mechanisms and dielectric characteristics of rare-earth orthoferrites by controlling oxygen vacancy density through plasma dose management. It also aims to enhance β-phase nucleation in Graphene/P(VDF-TrFE) reinforced polymer composites films — a result traditionally difficult to achieve without high-temperature annealing. The reactor features a variable-gap and dc power supply, parallel-plate electrode geometry and a multi-gas inlet manifold for Air, Ar, N2, or O2 that maintains precise working pressures between 10-2 and 10-3 mbar. To ensure material versatility, an integrated water-cooled substrate holder allows for the simultaneous processing of heat-sensitive composite polymers and high-temperature ceramics without structural degradation.

Keywords: DC Glow Discharge; Thin-Film Deposition; Surface Modification; Graphene-Polymer Composites
[1] PK Pradhan, AB Panda, A Ray, GK Mishra, NK Mohanty, Physica B: Condensed Matter 715, 417598
[2] AB Panda, SK Mahapatra, PK Barhai, AK Das, I Banerjee, Applied surface science 258 (24), (2012) 9824-9831
[3] C. Tendero, C. Tixier, P. Tristant, J. Desmaison, P. Leprince, Spectrochim. Acta Part B 61 (2006) 2-30.
[4] GK Sabavath, R Swaroop, J Singh, AB Panda, S Haldar, N Rao,Plasma Physics Reports 48 (5), (2022) 548-559
[5] SK Verma B Swain, LLipsa, S Parida, S Behera, AB Panda, Polymer International, 74(8), (2025), 667-675