Unraveling the Mechanism of Maskless Nanopatterning of Black Silicon by CF/H Plasma Reactive-Ion Etching.

The process of deep texturization of the crystalline silicon surface is intimately related to its promising diverse applications, such as bactericidal surfaces for integrated lab-on-chip devices and absorptive optical layers (black silicon-BSi). Surface structuring by a maskless texturization appeals as a cost-effective approach, which is up-scalable for large-area production. In the case of silicon, it occurs by means of reactive plasma processes (RIE-reactive-ion etching) using fluorocarbon CF and H as reaction gases, leading to self-assembled cylindrical and pyramidal nanopillars.

Assessment of Possible Application of an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet for Shelf Life Extension of Fresh-Cut Salad.

Ready-to-eat salads are very perishable with quality losses within 6-7 days, and the extension of their shelf life is still a challenge. In this work, an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) was applied for the surface decontamination of fresh-cut lettuce baby leaves. The APPJ antimicrobial efficiency on the natural microbiota and its impact on some physicochemical attributes of lettuce were evaluated as a function of the treatment duration (0-30 s).

Low density polyethylene functionalized with antibiofilm compounds inhibits Escherichia coli cell adhesion.

The present work concerns an efficient strategy to obtain novel medical devices materials able to inhibit biofilm formation. The new materials were achieved by covalent grafting of p-aminocinnamic or p-aminosalicylic acids on low density polyethylene coupons. The polyethylene surface, previously activated by oxygen plasma treatment, was functionalized using 2-hydroxymethylmetacrylate as linker.