Atmospheric pressure plasmas (APP) have demonstrated exceptional versatility to synthesize and modify a very wide range of materials with varying morphologies, sizes and compositions [1-3]. These include semiconducting, oxide and metal nanoparticles, nanostructured films and ultra-small quantum confined nanostructures. APPs have key features which would make the corresponding processes highly desirable for large scale manufacturing.

In recent years we have therefore focused our efforts in developing ad-hoc APP processes with in mind two main objectives. On one side we have developed processes that could be integrated in the fabrication of application devices so that we could demonstrate direct applicability of APPs to relevant device fabrication steps. In particular we have developed APP-based strategies for solar cell device fabrication [4]. At the same time we have tried to work bottom-up, whereby our materials synthesis approach was dictated by desired materials functionalities.

Here we will exemplify our efforts with a range of semiconducting nanoparticles and metal oxides to include Cu-, Zn-, Ni-, Mo- and Co-oxides. We will show different synthesis mechanisms and how specific properties such as bandgap, quantum confinement and plasmon resonance can be tailored guided by our materials needs. We will then demonstrate the materials functionalities within photovoltaic devices.

[1] Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 43 (2010) 415402

[2] Chemical Physics Letters 478 (2009) 224

[3] Applied Physics Letters 104 (2014) 163103

[4] Plasma Process. Polym. 13 (2016) 70