Abstract: The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relates to methods for optimization of the sliding properties of urinary catheters. The urinary catheters are first treated with a non-equilibrium gaseous plasma sustained in reactive gases or a mixture of a reactive gas with a noble gas. The first treatment enables a hydrophilic surface finish when oxygen is a reactive gas and an almost super-hydrophilic finish when the catheter is treated with hydrogen plasma followed by oxygen plasma. The hydrophilicity of the surface finish obtained upon the first plasma treatment is beneficial for adhering a layer of water solution of chitosan, which spreads uniformly on the entire outer surface of the catheter. The catheter with a layer of water solution of chitosan is dried and then treated with plasma containing an oxidative gas for better absorption of water by the dried chitosan film.

Abstract: Methods for the treatment of textiles used for facial masks assure for the inactivation of viruses captured by the textile. The aerosol droplets are absorbed by the textile, and any viruses in the water droplets react with a virucidal substance. The surface of textile fibers is first exposed to gaseous plasma to assure appropriate wettability. The textile is then soaked in a diluted water solution of a virucidal substance. The excessive water solution is optionally removed by draining, and the drained textile is then dried. The methods enable uniform coating of the textile fibers with an extremely thin film of virucidal substance. A typical concentration of the virucidal substance in the textiles treated according to the methods of the aspects of disclosed embodiments is about 10 g/kg. Such a small concentration is benign to humans but effectively inactivates the viruses that might be captured by the textile.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for depositing vertically oriented carbon nanowalls (CNWs) using non-equilibrium gases such as gaseous plasma. Methods are disclosed for rapid deposition of uniformly distributed nanowalls on large surfaces of substrates using ablation of bulk carbon materials by reactive gaseous species, formation of oxidized carbon-containing gaseous molecules, ionization of said molecules and interacting said molecules, neutral or positively charged, with a substrate. The CNWs prepared are useful in different applications such as fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, photovoltaic devices and sensors of specific gaseous molecules.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for depositing carbon nanostructures such as three-dimensional graphene mesh using non-equilibrium gaseous plasma of high power density. Methods are disclosed for rapid deposition of randomly distributed graphene sheets on surfaces of substrates using decomposition of CO molecules of a high potential energy, and said excited CO molecules interacting with a substrate. The three-dimensional graphene mesh prepared according to the methods are useful in different applications such as light absorbents, fuel cells, super-capacitors, batteries, photovoltaic devices and sensors of specific gaseous molecules.

Abstract: Methods for modification of surface wettability of fluorine-containing polymers by sequential treatments first with gaseous plasma rich in ultraviolet radiation, and then oxidation using neutral reactive oxidative species. The methods are rapid and permit treatment of fluorine-containing polymers of any shape and size including ‘infinite’ materials such as foils. A surface layer of an object made from a fluorine-containing polymer is depleted of fluorine upon interaction with gaseous plasma rich in ultraviolet radiation. The depleted surface layer is then exposed to reactive oxygen species such as neutral oxygen atoms in the ground state. The wettability of objects made from or containing fluorine-containing polymers treated according to the methods of the present disclosure is close to the theoretical limit for smooth polymers well functionalized with polar functional groups.

Abstract: A method for deposition of nitrogen-doped nanocarbon comprises disposing molten polymer and a heated substrate in a plasma reactor; providing dense nitrogen-containing plasma in the plasma reactor in a space between the molten polymer and the heated substrate; and allowing the dense nitrogen-containing plasma to interact with both the molten polymer and the heated substrate to form a film of nitrogen-containing nanocarbon on the heated substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for depositing vertically oriented carbon nanowalls (CNWs) using non-equilibrium gases such as gaseous plasma. Methods are disclosed for rapid deposition of uniformly distributed nanowalls on large surfaces of substrates using ablation of bulk carbon materials by reactive gaseous species, formation of oxidized carbon-containing gaseous molecules, ionization of said molecules and interacting said molecules, neutral or positively charged, with a substrate. The CNWs prepared are useful in different applications such as fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, photovoltaic devices and sensors of specific gaseous molecules.

Abstract: Methods for modification of surface wettability of fluorine-containing polymers by sequential treatments first with gaseous plasma rich in ultraviolet radiation, and then oxidation using neutral reactive oxidative species. The methods are rapid and permit treatment of fluorine-containing polymers of any shape and size including ‘infinite’ materials such as foils. A surface layer of an object made from a fluorine-containing polymer is depleted of fluorine upon interaction with gaseous plasma rich in ultraviolet radiation. The depleted surface layer is then exposed to reactive oxygen species such as neutral oxygen atoms in the ground state. The wettability of objects made from or containing fluorine-containing polymers treated according to the methods of the present disclosure is close to the theoretical limit for smooth polymers well functionalized with polar functional groups.

Abstract: A method for the partial or total modification of functional groups on the surface of polymeric materials or polymer-containing materials, by means of combined plasma functionalization and localized thermal defunctionalization, is disclosed. At first, a surface of a polymer material is exposed to a cold plasma, whereby a desired polymer functionalization is achieved. After the plasma treatment, the surface is locally heated in an optional manner, primarily by means of an electron beam, resulting in local defunctionalization of the heated surface area. The directing of the electron beam across the surface of the material results in any desired distribution of functional groups on the surface. Also disclosed is a device for performing such a treatment.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring ultrahigh vacuum are disclosed. The method includes providing a vacuum cold cathode pressure gauge and varying a voltage on an anode of the pressure cell with pressure in such a way that an ion current flow is maintained substantially at its maximum value at all times. A voltage-controlled source either (1) preliminarily scans a whole voltage range, for example, between 1 kV and 12 kV, in a relatively short time, and subsequently sets the source to the voltage, at which the current is substantially at its maximum value or (2) based on a calibration of the gauge, sets the voltage, for a given pressure, to the value that has been previously stored as substantially optimal. The device operates at a voltage that varies with pressure in such a way that the ion current is maintained substantially at its maximum value at all times.

Abstract: A method for the partial or total modification of functional groups on the surface of polymeric materials or polymer-containing materials, by means of combined plasma functionalization and localized thermal defunctionalization, is disclosed. At first, a surface of a polymer material is exposed to a cold plasma, whereby a desired polymer functionalization is achieved. After the plasma treatment, the surface is locally heated in an optional manner, primarily by means of an electron beam, resulting in local defunctionalization of the heated surface area. The directing of the electron beam across the surface of the material results in any desired distribution of functional groups on the surface. Also disclosed is a device for performing such a treatment.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring ultrahigh vacuum are disclosed. The method includes providing a vacuum cold cathode pressure gauge and varying a voltage on an anode of the pressure cell with pressure in such a way that an ion current flow is maintained substantially at its maximum value at all times. A voltage-controlled source either (1) preliminarily scans a whole voltage range, for example, between 1 kV and 12 kV, in a relatively short time, and subsequently sets the source to the voltage, at which the current is substantially at its maximum value or (2) based on a calibration of the gauge, sets the voltage, for a given pressure, to the value that has been previously stored as substantially optimal. The device operates at a voltage that varies with pressure in such a way that the ion current is maintained substantially at its maximum value at all times.