Insights in the initiation and termination of poly(alkyl acrylates) synthesized by atmospheric pressure plasma-initiated chemical vapor deposition (AP-PiCVD)

Abstract

A comprehensive mass-spectrometry study of a set of poly(alkyl acrylate) layers synthesized by atmospheric pressure plasma-initiated chemical vapor deposition (AP-PiCVD) is provided. High-resolution mass spectrometry investigations demonstrate that exposure of the alkyl acrylate monomers to ultra-short and low-frequency plasma pulses produces a defined number of radical and neutral fragments, which can play both the roles of polymerization initiation or termination groups. Further inquiries illustrate the competition between a conventional free-radical polymerization pathway and plasma-polymerization. On the basis of the mass-spectrometry observations and the bond dissociation energies calculated by density functional theory, guidelines are made to select appropriate AP-PiCVD monomers.