Nanocomposite layers synthesized by atmospheric-pressure plasma combined with an aerosolized gold salt solution: influence of the solution concentration

Nanocomposite layers synthesized by atmospheric-pressure plasma combined with an aerosolized gold salt solution: influence of the solution concentration | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Nanocomposite layers synthesized by atmospheric-pressure plasma combined with an aerosolized gold salt solution: influence of the solution concentration Elène Bizeray, Antoine Belinger, Simon Dap, Sophie Nowak, Philippe Decorse, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9092831/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This work reports on an atmospheric-pressure plasma process that enables the deposition of organic/inorganic nanocomposite thin films in a single step, without direct handling of nanoparticles (NPs). The deposition strategy involves combining a planar dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in N 2 with an aerosol containing a gold salt (HAuCl 4 ·3H 2 O) dissolved in a polymerizable solvent (isopropanol). For this process, a dual-frequency power supply is used: the high frequency (HF) promotes the gold salt reduction, isopropanol plasma polymerization and matrix growth, while the low frequency (LF) enables the transport and deposition of NPs onto the substrate surface. Our previous study demonstrated that the ratio of HF duration to the whole cycle duration ( i.e. , the cumulated LF and HF durations) directly influences thin-film uniformity. Another key parameter in these aerosol-based processes is the concentration of gold precursor in solution. The present study specifically investigates how variations in gold concentration in the injected solution (0.1–0.6 wt.-% Au) affect the properties of the synthesized films. UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy clearly show net differences in the optical, chemical, and morphological characteristics of the produced films, with those produced from lower gold concentrations exhibiting more uniform particle distribution and a less viscous nature. Dielectric Barrier Discharge nanocomposite thin films metal salt PECVD aerosol plasmonic properties Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 23 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 15 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 31 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 17 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 17 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 11 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9092831","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":609274979,"identity":"308cf96d-8388-44d8-8701-34bca3e52c29","order_by":0,"name":"Elène Bizeray","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Univ Toulouse, Toulouse INP, CNRS, Laplace","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Elène","middleName":"","lastName":"Bizeray","suffix":""},{"id":609274984,"identity":"b752ea3b-a467-4b2b-9bfa-fa893d828750","order_by":1,"name":"Antoine Belinger","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Univ Toulouse, Toulouse INP, CNRS, 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The deposition strategy involves combining a planar dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in N\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e with an aerosol containing a gold salt (HAuCl\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026middot;3H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO) dissolved in a polymerizable solvent (isopropanol). For this process, a dual-frequency power supply is used: the high frequency (HF) promotes the gold salt reduction, isopropanol plasma polymerization and matrix growth, while the low frequency (LF) enables the transport and deposition of NPs onto the substrate surface. Our previous study demonstrated that the ratio of HF duration to the whole cycle duration (\u003cem\u003ei.e.\u003c/em\u003e, the cumulated LF and HF durations) directly influences thin-film uniformity. Another key parameter in these aerosol-based processes is the concentration of gold precursor in solution. 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