Plasma polymerization of biogenic precursors

Abstract

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is a highly promising tool for coating deposition due to its versatility, tunability, low chemical consumption, and cost-effectiveness, with an increasing scope of deposition methods at both low and atmospheric pressure. Adhering to green chemistry principles, biobased precursors have recently shifted into the focus of research interests. This review gives an overview of the main biogenic substance classes that have been used for the deposition of plasma polymer coatings, including natural oils, terpenes, enzymes, and lactic acid-based precursors. The common feature of these precursors is not only their biogenic origin, but additionally the manifold properties of the resulting plasma-deposited thin films, ranging from antimicrobial properties to tunable surface-wetting characteristics, electrical conductivity, or biodegradability. This combination of unique features makes plasma-derived polymers based on natural precursors immensely attractive for manifold applications.