Recent advancements in the use of aerosol-assisted atmospheric pressure plasma deposition

Atmospheric pressure plasma allows for the easy modification of materials' surfaces for a wide range of technological applications. Coupling the aerosol injection of precursors with atmospheric pressure plasma largely extends the versatility of this kind of process; in fact solid and, in general, scarcely volatile precursors can be delivered to the plasma, extending the variety of chemical pathways to surface modification. This review provides an overview of the state of the art of aerosol-assisted atmospheric pressure plasma deposition. Advantages (many), and drawbacks (few) will be illustrated, as well as hints as to the correct coupling of the atomization source with the plasma to obtain specific coatings. In particular, the deposition of different organic, hybrid inorganic-organic and bioactive nanocomposite coatings will be discussed. Finally, it will be shown that, in particular cases, unique core-shell nanocapsules can be obtained.