Energetics of reactions in a dielectric barrier discharge with argon carrier gas: IV ethyl lactate

Abstract

We report dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)‐based atmospheric pressure (AP) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) experiments using argon carrier gas and ethyl lactate (EL) as the precursor molecule (“monomer”). As in our preceding research with other monomers, unprecedented precision and reproducibility is again demonstrated, here to create plasma polymerized (PP‐EL) deposits. PP‐EL is thought to be an excellent candidate for bio‐medical applications on account of the non‐toxic nature of resulting PP‐EL deposits. We have shown that a narrow range of energy values absorbed from the plasma, E m , between roughly 21 and 42 eV/molecule, lead to PP‐EL coatings of widely varying structural and physical properties, ones with controlled retention of chemical features of the EL monomer, and a predictable rate of degradation in aqueous media.