Recent progresses in material fabrication and modification by cold plasma technique

Carbon-based materials, metal oxides and metal nanoparticles have been widely used in propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics. Cold plasma technique has been developed for material fabrication and modification at temperatures lower than 200 ⁰C. Due to the low temperatures, cold plasma can efficiently modify material surface properties, and simultaneously maintain material structures well, especially for temperature-sensitive materials. Cold plasma applies gas, e.g. Ar, N2, O2, H2 and air, as working gas, without any harmful substance like acid, alkali and organic solvent. Moreover, material surface properties can be efficiently tuned by simply changing plasma properties, e.g. power, time and working gas. The present review discusses recent progresses in using cold plasma to fabricate carbon-based materials, metal oxides and metal nanoparticles, and to modify surface properties of carbon-based materials, metal oxides and metal nanoparticles. Future research opportunities and challenges are also proposed. It is believed that the present review will stimulate more studies on material fabrication and modification by cold plasma, and help to construct more efficient materials for propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics.