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Eco-friendly decontamination treatments on works of art made from organic materials are of growing interest. The high risks to human health and the environment associated with traditional biocides (e.g. ecotoxicity, development of biotic resistance) have made it necessary to search for safer alternatives, also looking at the past but innovating it. The current state of the art is explored here, delving into the literature on the topic from 2000 to today, and outlining trends in terms of the most tested artistic supports and types of published research (in vitro/in vivo). An overview of the characteristics and mechanisms of biodegradation processes on different types of organic products and on the microorganisms mainly involved is thus provided. The main chemical-physical action techniques tested are illustrated and their practical-applicative aspects are discussed on the basis of evidence from case studies. Taking stock of the actual situation, literature consultation highlights that if on the one hand research is advancing rapidly towards the discovery of new ecological and safe solutions, on the other hand these are often biocidal treatments whose protocols have yet to be explored and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neural cell-electrode coupling is crucial for effective neural and retinal prostheses. Enhancing this coupling can be achieved through surface modification and geometrical design to increase neuron-electrode proximity. In the current research, we focused on designing and studying various biomolecules as a method to elicit neural cell-electrode adhesion via cellspecific integrin mechanisms. Methods: We designed extracellular matrix biomimetic molecules with different head sequences (RGD or YIGSR), structures (linear or cyclic), and spacer lengths (short or long). These molecules, anchored by a thiol (SH) group, were deposited onto gold surfaces at various concentrations. We assessed the modifications using contact angle measurements, fluorescence imaging, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). We then analyzed the adhesion of retinal cells and HEK293 cells to the modified surfaces by measuring cell density, surface area, and focal adhesion spots, and examined changes in adhesion-related gene and integrin expression. Results: Results showed that YIGSR biomolecules significantly enhanced retinal cell adhesion, regardless of spacer length. For HEK293 cells, RGD biomolecules were more effective, especially with cyclic RGD and long spacers. Both cell types showed increased expression of specific adhesion integrins and proteins like vinculin and PTK2; these results were in agreement with the adhesion studies, confirming the cell-specific interactions with modified surfaces. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of tailored biomolecules for improving neural cell adhesion to electrodes. By customizing biomolecules to foster specific and effective interactions with adhesion integrins, our study provides valuable insights for enhancing the integration and functionality of retinal prostheses and other neural implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocellulose is among the most promising materials for enhancing the mechanical properties of polymer composites. Broad application is, however, limited by inadequate surface properties. A standard technique for tailoring the surface composition and wettability of polymers is a brief treatment with non-equilibrium gaseous plasma, but it often fails when treating materials with a large surface-to-mass ratio, such as cellulose nanofibers. In this paper, the theoretical limitations are explained, the approaches reported by different groups are reviewed, and the results are interpreted. The treatment of dry nanocellulose is limited by the ability of uniform treatment, whereas the plasma treatment of nanocellulose dispersed in liquids is a slow process. The methods for enhancing the treatment efficiency for both dry and water-dispersed nanocellulose are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes an affordable plasma device that utilizes a parallel-plate dielectric barrier discharge geometry with a metallic mesh electrode, featuring a straightforward 3D-printed design. Powered by a high-voltage supply adapted from a cosmetic plasma device, it operates on atmospheric air, eliminating the need for gas flux. Surface modification of polyethylene treated with this device was characterized and showed that the elemental composition after 15 min of plasma treatment decreased the amount of C to ~80 at% due to the insertion of O (~15 at%). Tested against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, the device achieved a reduction of over 99% in microbial load with exposure times ranging from 1 to 10 min. Simultaneously, the Vero cell viability remained consistently high, namely between 91% and 96% across exposure times. These results highlight this device's potential for the surface modification of materials and various infection-related applications, boasting affordability and facilitating effective antimicrobial interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of dopamine self-polymerization were used to cover the nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) surface and produce nano-titanium dioxide-polydopamine (TiO2-PDA). The reducing nature of dopamine was then used to reduce silver nitrate to silver elemental particles on the modified nano-titanium dioxide: The resulting TiO2-PDA-Ag nanoparticles were used as antimicrobial agents. Finally, the antibacterial agent was mixed with silicone to obtain an antibacterial silicone composite material. The composition and structure of antibacterial agents were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron energy spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Microscopy and the antibacterial properties of the silicone antibacterial composites were studied as well. The TiO2-PDA-Ag antimicrobial agent had good dispersion versus nano-TiO2. The three were strongly combined with obvious characteristic peaks. The antibacterial agents were evenly dispersed in silicone, and the silicone composite has excellent antibacterial properties. Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) adhesion was reduced from 246 × 104 cfu/cm2 to 2 × 104 cfu/cm2, and colibacillus (E. coli) reduced from 228 × 104 cfu/cm2 leading to bacteria-free adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to create a more sustainable and controlled delivery system based on natural biopolymer bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) and bacterial natural product actinomycin (Act), with the applicative potential in the biomedical field. In order to provide improved interaction between BNC and the active compound, and thus to modulate the release kinetics, the TEMPO oxidation of BNC support was carried out. A mix of actinomycins from bacterial fermentation (ActX) were used as natural antimicrobial agents with an established bioactivity profile and clinical use. BNC and TEMPO-oxidized BNC films with incorporated active compounds were obtained and analyzed by FTIR, SEM, XPS, and XRD. The ActX release profiles were determined in phosphate-buffer solution, PBS, at 37 °C over time. FTIR analysis confirmed the improved incorporation and efficiency of ActX adsorption on oxidized BNC due to the availability of more active sites provided by oxidation. SEM analysis indicated the incorporation of ActX into the less-dense morphology of the TEMPO-oxidized BNC in comparison to pure BNC. The release kinetics of ActX were significantly affected by the BNC structure, and the activated BNC sample indicated the sustained release of active compounds over time, corresponding to the Fickian diffusion mechanism. Antimicrobial tests using Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 confirmed the potency of this BNC-based system for biomedical applications, taking advantage of the capacity of modified BNC to control and modulate the release of bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma treatment is necessary to optimize the performance of biomaterial surfaces. It enhances and regulates the performance of biomaterial surfaces, creating an effective interface with the human body. Plasma treatments have the ability to modify the chemical composition and physical structure of a surface while leaving its properties unaffected. They possess the ability to modify material surfaces, eliminate contaminants, conduct investigations on cancer therapy, and facilitate wound healing. The subject of study in question involves the integration of plasma science and technology with biology and medicine. Using a helium plasma jet source, applying up to 18 kV, with an average power of 10 W, polymer foils were treated for 60 s. Plasma treatment has the ability to alter the chemical composition and physical structure of a surface while maintaining its quality. This investigation involved the application of helium plasma at atmospheric pressure to polyamide 6 and polyethylene terephthalate sheets. The inquiry involves monitoring and assessing the plasma source and polymer materials, as well as analyzing the impacts of plasma therapy. Calculating the mean power of the discharge aids in assessing the economic efficacy of the plasma source. Electric discharge in helium at atmospheric pressure has beneficial effects in technology, where it increases the surface free energy of polymer materials. In biomedicine, it is used to investigate cytotoxicity and cell survival, particularly in direct blood exposure situations that can expedite coagulation. Comprehending the specific parameters that influence the plasma source in the desired manner for the intended application is of utmost importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—The review presents publications devoted to a promising biopolymer, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, and composite materials based on it. The structure and properties of the materials are considered. The main focus is on the biomedical application of these biopolymer materials. The main advantage of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate is its biodegradability in nature and living systems, biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and thromboresistance. This biopolymer also possesses processability. The products and materials based on it can be processed by solution and melt production methods. The review pays great attention to the production of ultrathin fibers by electrospinning. Materials based on poly-3-hydroxybutyrate even now find wide application in medicine, hygiene, packaging, and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcarrier-based cell culture systems have gained significant attention and popularity in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this culture system, tissue cells are grown as a monolayer on the surface of small solid particles called microcarriers (100 to 300 μm), kept suspended in the culture medium by stirring. This technology has paved the way for creating engineered tissues, one of the cutting-edge topics in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Microcarrier-based approaches have been proposed for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture in which cellular morphology and functions are maintained in vivo. This paper provides an overview of the optimal characteristics such as microcarriers' size, shape, density and porosity. Various methods of preparation of microcarriers and surface modification techniques have been elaborated. Recent advances and applications of microcarriers in biotechnology fields, like the production of viral vaccines and recombinant proteins, culture and expansion of stem cells (SC), are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This comprehensive review covers recent advancements in utilizing various types of polymers and their modifications as photocatalysts for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water. It also considers polymers that enhance the photocatalytic properties of other materials, highlighting their dual role in improving water purification efficiency. Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in understanding the photocatalytic properties of polymers, including organic, inorganic, and composite materials, and their efficacy in degrading pharmaceuticals. Some of the most commonly used polymers, such as polyaniline, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polyethylene oxide, and polypyrole, and their properties have been reviewed in detail. Physical modification techniques (mechanical blending and extrusion processing) and chemical modification techniques (nanocomposite formation, plasma modification techniques, surface functionalization, and cross-linking) have been discussed as appropriate for modifying polymers in order to increase their photocatalytic activity. This review examines the latest research findings, including the development of novel polymer-based photocatalysts and their application in the removal of pharmaceutical compounds, as well as optimization strategies for enhancing their performance. Additionally, challenges and future directions in this field are discussed to guide further research efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the demand for the protection and restoration of cultural heritage has become increasingly urgent. Particularly for paper-based cultural relics such as ancient books and paintings, their restoration is especially important due to their unique nature and susceptibility to environmental damage. Among various restoration materials, calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) has been widely studied and applied in the protection of paper-based cultural relics. However, commercial Ca(OH)2 materials have issues such as a large particle size and slow carbonation. In order to address these issues, this study employed carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a support, on which nano-sized Ca(OH)2 crystals were grown in situ on its surface, followed by loading with TiO2 nanoparticles, successfully preparing a multifunctional paper-based cultural relic restoration material with reinforcement, deacidification, anti-aging, and antimicrobial properties. It is worth noting that by in situ growing Ca(OH)2 on the surface of CMC, particle size control, uniform dispersion, and the fixation of Ca(OH)2 can be achieved. CMC is used to enhance the mechanical strength of the paper, Ca(OH)2 is used for deacidification, and TiO2 is used for anti-aging and antimicrobial purposes. This study provides a new approach and method for the restoration of paper-based cultural relics, simplifying traditional multi-step processes and avoiding potential impacts on the cultural relics from multiple repairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of plasma gradient modification and gradient illumination on the optoelectronic properties of buckypaper (BP), a flexible and large-scale material composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The BP samples were subjected to argon ion plasma treatment at varying power levels and durations, thereby creating different carrier concentration gradients on the surface. The photovoltage and photocurrent responses of the samples were then measured under uniform full illumination and gradient illumination conditions. The findings revealed that both plasma gradient modification and gradient illumination significantly enhanced the optoelectronic performance of BP. Notably, the combined application of these two methods yielded superior results compared to the application of either method alone. Specifically, the optimal plasma power for improving BP was found to be 20 W. Under conditions of plasma gradient modification and gradient illumination, a photovoltage of 267.76 μV was generated, which represents a 21.44 times increase, and a photocurrent of 15.69 μA, reflecting a 32.69 times enhancement. The mechanism underlying this optoelectronic effect can be attributed to the presence of π-bonds in the carbon atoms. These π-bonds are excited by photons, resulting in the generation of small voltages and currents. This study underscores the potential of BP as an optoelectronic material and introduces a novel approach to enhance its optoelectronic properties through plasma gradient modification and gradient illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma fluidized-bed contributes to strengthening the interaction between active species in plasma and fluidized powder particles, resulting in higher active species utilization efficiency and superior powders processing/modification performance. However, the plasma streamer dynamics on the fluidized powder particles are still unclear due to the intricacy of plasma fluidized-bed. In this work, the time-resolved evolution behavior of plasma streamers on fluidized powder particles surfaces has been explored in plasma fluidized-bed system based on a simplified pin-cylinder configuration. The results reveal that the entire streamer propagation process includes volume discharge and surface discharge. The maximum electron density generated by surface discharge is one order of magnitude higher than that produced by volume discharge, indicating that surface discharge plays a dominant role in powder particles modification. The presence of fluidized particle will cause streamer branching, and the main streamer splits into two independent sub-streamers for propagation in a 'parabola-like' shape. Compared with large-size fluidized particles (1000 µ m), streamer wraps a larger area on micron-size fluidized particles (200 µ m), with a 78% increase in the coverage area, which is favorable to the modification of powder particles. Furthermore, the evolution of active species on fluidized particle surface is analyzed. The active species (N, O, O2−) are mainly distributed around the north pole, and N2+ is mainly distributed between 25° and 50° of the particles. With the decrease of fluidized particle size, the polarization effect between particles is significantly enhanced, and the maxima of the number densities of active species increase. These findings help to get a better understanding of the interaction between plasma and fluidized particles in fluidized systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium has a long history of clinical use, but the naturally forming oxide is not ideal for bacterial resistance. Anodization processes can modify the crystallinity, surface topography, and surface chemistry of titanium oxides. Anatase, rutile, and mixed phase oxides are known to exhibit photocatalytic activity (PCA)-driven bacterial resistance under UVA irradiation. Silver additions are reported to enhance PCA and reduce bacterial attachment. This study investigated the effects of silver-doping additions to three established anodization processes. Silver doping showed no significant influence on oxide crystallinity, surface topography, or surface wettability. Oxides from a sulfuric acid anodization process exhibited significantly enhanced PCA after silver doping, but silver-doped oxides produced from phosphoric-acid-containing electrolytes did not. Staphylococcus aureus attachment was also assessed under dark and UVA-irradiated conditions on each oxide. Each oxide exhibited a photocatalytic antimicrobial effect as indicated by significantly decreased bacterial attachment under UVA irradiation compared to dark conditions. However, only the phosphorus-doped mixed anatase and rutile phase oxide exhibited an additional significant reduction in bacteria attachment under UVA irradiation as a result of silver doping. The antimicrobial success of this oxide was attributed to the combination of the mixed phase oxide and higher silver-doping uptake levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study continues the discussion on the surface modification of polymers using an atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) reactor in air. These results complement prior research focusing on nonpolar polymers. Polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyetheretherketone, and polymethyl methacrylate, containing structurally bonded oxygen are studied, representing a range of properties such as oxygen content, crystalline/amorphous structure, polarity, functionality, and aliphatic/aromatic structure. APP induces superior wetting properties on the hydrophilic polymer surfaces with rapid and uniform modification within 0.5 s of exposure. The amorphous structures undergo additional modification for longer exposure. Moreover, the aliphatic chain structures require longer plasma exposure to reach surface modification equilibrium. The polar polymers reach a limit level of modification corresponding to a minimum water contact angle of about 50°. The surface polarity increases on average by a factor of approximately two. The equilibrium values of the adhesion work attained after post-processing recovery fall within a limited range of about 100–120 mJ/m2. The enhancement of surface functionality through the creation of oxidized groups primarily depends on the initial oxygen content and reaches a limit of about 40 at.% oxygen. The surface properties of the treated polar surfaces exhibit good stability, comparable to that of the previously tested nonpolar polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has attracted great attention in various fields due to its excellent properties, but its inherent hydrophobicity presents challenges in many applications that require controlled wettability. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of some key strategies for modifying the wettability of PDMS surfaces by providing the main traditional methods for this modification and the results of altering the contact angle and other characteristics associated with this property. Four main technologies are discussed, namely, oxygen plasma treatment, surfactant addition, UV-ozone treatment, and the incorporation of nanomaterials, as these traditional methods are commonly selected due to the greater availability of information, their lower complexity compared to the new techniques, and the lower cost associated with them. Oxygen plasma treatment is a widely used method for improving the hydrophilicity of PDMS surfaces by introducing polar functional groups through oxidation reactions. The addition of surfactants provides a versatile method for altering the wettability of PDMS, where the selection and concentration of the surfactant play an important role in achieving the desired surface properties. UV-ozone treatment is an effective method for increasing the surface energy of PDMS, inducing oxidation, and generating hydrophilic functional groups. Furthermore, the incorporation of nanomaterials into PDMS matrices represents a promising route for modifying wettability, providing adjustable surface properties through controlled dispersion and interfacial interactions. The synergistic effect of nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles and nanotubes, helps to improve wetting behaviour and surface energy. The present review discusses recent advances of each technique and highlights their underlying mechanisms, advantages, and limitations. Additionally, promising trends and future prospects for surface modification of PDMS are discussed, and the importance of tailoring wettability for applications ranging from microfluidics to biomedical devices is highlighted. Traditional methods are often chosen to modify the wettability of the PDMS surface because they have more information available in the literature, are less complex than new techniques, and are also less expensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wettability of polymers is usually inadequate to ensure the appropriate spreading of polar liquids and thus enable the required adhesion of coatings. A standard ecologically benign method for increasing the polymer wettability is a brief treatment with a non-equilibrium plasma rich in reactive oxygen species and predominantly neutral oxygen atoms in the ground electronic state. The evolution of the surface wettability of selected aromatic polymers was investigated by water droplet contact angles deposited immediately after exposing polymer samples to fluxes of oxygen atoms between 3 × 1020 and 1 × 1023 m−2s−1. The treatment time varied between 0.01 and 1000 s. The wettability evolution versus the O-atom fluence for all aromatic polymers followed similar behavior regardless of the flux of O atoms or the type of polymer. In the range of fluences between approximately 5 × 1020 and 5 × 1023 m−2, the water contact angle decreased exponentially with increasing fluence and dropped to 1/e of the initial value after receiving the fluence close to 5 × 1022 m−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel approach for improving the interfacial adhesion between Nd–Fe–B spherical magnetic powders and polyamide 12 (PA12) in polymer-bonded magnets using plasma treatments. By applying radio frequency plasma to the magnetic powder and low-pressure microwave plasma to PA12, we achieved a notable enhancement in the mechanical and environmental stability of fused deposition modeling (FDM)-printed Nd-Fe-B/PA12 magnets. The densities of the FDM-printed materials ranged from 92% to 94% of their theoretical values, with magnetic remanence (Br) ranging from 85% to 89% of the theoretical values across all batches. The dual plasma-treated batch demonstrated an optimal mechanical profile with an elastic modulus of 578 MPa and the highest ductility at 21%, along with a tensile strength range of 6 to 7 MPa across all batches. Flexural testing indicated that this batch also achieved the highest flexural strength of 15 MPa with a strain of 5%. Environmental stability assessments confirmed that applied plasma treatments did not compromise resistance to corrosion, evidenced by negligible flux loss in both hygrothermal and bulk corrosion tests. These results highlight plasma treatment's potential to enhance mechanical strength, magnetic performance, and environmental stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of hair loss has become an increasing concern due to growing societal pressures. Currently available hair loss treatments often produce unsatisfactory results, cause significant physical damage, and are costly. Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma has been widely used in various biomedical fields, including sterilization, coagulation promotion, and cancer treatment. This paper pioneered the use of a kind of portable pulsed plasma jet power supply in the resting period of mouse hair follicle, and found that plasma jet can effectively shorten the resting period of mouse hair follicle, so that they re-enter the regeneration period and grow hair. Plasma jet provides a new treatment method for hair loss that is cheap, simple, highly effective, has no side effects and has broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Cell microenvironment contains a plethora of information that influences cell modulation. Indeed, the extracellular matrix plays a central role in tissue development. Reproducing the cell–extracellular matrix crosstalk able to recapitulate both physical and biochemical signals is crucial to obtain functional tissue models or regenerative strategies. Materials & methods: Here, a combined method is proposed to easily functionalize collagen surface films, tailoring morphological properties. Oxygen nonthermal plasma treatment and glyco-conjugation with chondroitin sulfate are used to modify surface properties. Results: It results in higher adhesion, proliferation and morphological organization of U87 glioblastoma cells. Conclusion: Our finding suggests new promising strategies for the development of collagen-based biomaterials, which can be employed for advanced in vitro models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers are essential in several sectors, yet some applications necessitate surface modification. One practical and eco-friendly option is non-thermal plasma exposure. The present research endeavors to examine the impacts of dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric pressure plasma on the chemical composition and wettability properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene surfaces subject to the action of additive manufacturing. The plasma source was produced by igniting either helium or argon and then adjusted to maximize the operational conditions for exposing polymers. The drop in contact angle and the improvement in wettability after plasma exposure can be due to the increased oxygen-containing groups onto the surface, together with a reduction in carbon content. The research findings indicated that plasma treatment significantly improved the wettability of the polymer surface, with an increase of up to 60% for both working gases, while the polar index increased from 0.01 up to 0.99 after plasma treatment. XPS measurements showed an increase of up to 10% in oxygen groups at the surface of He–plasma-treated samples and up to 13% after Ar–plasma treatment. Significant modifications were observed in the structure that led to a reduction of its roughness by 50% and also caused a leveling effect after plasma treatment. A slight decrease in the glass and melting temperature after plasma treatment was pointed out by differential scanning calorimetry and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Up to a 15% crystallinity index was determined after plasma treatment, and the 3D printing process was measured through X-ray diffraction. The empirical findings encourage the implementation of atmospheric pressure plasma-based techniques for the environmentally sustainable manipulation of polymers for applications necessitating higher levels of adhesion and specific prerequisites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, recent advances in tailoring the surface properties of polymers for the optimization of the adhesion of various coatings by non-equilibrium gaseous plasma are reviewed, and important findings are stressed. Different authors have used various experimental setups and reported results that scatter significantly and are sometimes contradictory. The correlations between the processing parameters and the adhesion are drawn, and discrepancies are explained. Many authors have explained improved adhesion with the adjustment of the surface free energy or wettability of the polymer substrate and the surface tension of liquids used for the deposition of thin films. The adhesion force between the polymer substrate and the coating does not always follow the evolution of the surface wettability, which is explained by several effects, including the aging effects due to the hydrophobic recovery and the formation of an interlayer rich in loosely bonded low molecular weight fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study involved the creation of highly porous PLA scaffolds through the porogen/leaching method, utilizing polyethylene glycol as a porogen with a 75% mass ratio. The outcome achieved a highly interconnected porous structure with a thickness of 25 μm. To activate the scaffold's surface and improve its hydrophilicity, radiofrequency (RF) air plasma treatment was employed. Subsequently, furcellaran subjected to sulfation or carboxymethylation was deposited onto the RF plasma treated surfaces with the intention of improving bioactivity. Surface roughness and water wettability experienced enhancement following the surface modification. The incorporation of sulfate/carboxymethyl group (DS = 0.8; 0.3, respectively) is confirmed by elemental analysis and FT-IR. Successful functionalization of PLA scaffolds was validated by SEM and XPS analysis, showing changes in topography and increases in characteristic elements (N, S, Na) for sulfated (SF) and carboxymethylated (CMF). Cytocompatibility was evaluated by using mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH/3T3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes (PUs) are versatile polymers used in medical applications due to their high flexibility and fatigue resistance. PUs are widely used for synthetic blood vessels, wound dressings, cannulas, and urinary and cardiovascular catheters. Many scientific reports indicate that surface wettability is crucial for biocompatibility and bacterial adhesion. The use of oxygen plasma to modify PUs is advantageous because of its effectiveness in introducing oxygen-containing functional groups, thereby altering surface wettability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the modification of the oxygen plasma of polyurethane on its biocompatibility with lung tissue (A549 cell line) and the adhesion of Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and S. epidermidis). The results showed that the modification of polyurethane by oxygen plasma allowed the introduction of functional groups containing oxygen (-OH and -COOH), which significantly increased its hydrophilicity (change from 105° ± 2° to 9° ± 2°) of PUs. Surface analysis by atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed changes in PU topography (change in maximum height from ∼110.3 nm to ∼32.1 nm). Moreover, biocompatibility studies on A549 cells showed that on the PU-modified surface, the cells exhibited altered morphology (increases in cell surface area and length, and thus reduced circularity) without concomitant effects on cell viability. However, serial dilution and plate count and microscopic methods confirmed that plasma modification significantly increased the adhesion of S. aureus and S. epidermidis bacteria. This study indicate the important role of surface hydrophilicity in biocompatibility and bacterial adhesion, which is important in the design of new medical biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various surface modification strategies are being developed to endow dental titanium implant surfaces with micro- and nano-structures to improve their biocompatibility, and first of all their osseointegration. These modifications have the potential to address clinical concerns by stimulating different biological processes. This study aims to evaluate the biological responses of ananatase-modified blasted/etched titanium (SLA-anatase) surfaces compared to blasted/acid etched (SLA) and machined titanium surfaces. Using unipolar pulsed direct current (DC) sputtering, a nanocrystalline anatase layer was fabricated. In vitro experiments have shown that SLA-anatase discs can effectively promote osteoblast adhesion and proliferation, which are regarded as important features of a successful dental implant with bone contact. Furthermore, anatase surface modification has been shown to partially enhance osteoblast mineralization in vitro, while not significantly affecting bacterial colonization. Consequently, the recently created anatase coating holds significant potential as a promising candidate for future advancements in dental implant surface modification for improving the initial stages of osseointegration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effects of plasma surface treatments and methyl methacrylate-based adhesives on polyetheretherketone. Materials and Methods: One hundred ten polyetheretherketone specimens were fabricated and divided into five pretreatment groups: group ArP, 100% argon plasma; group ArOP, 50% argon + 50% oxygen plasma; group ArNP, 50% argon + 50% nitrogen plasma; group ArONP, 75% argon + 12.5% oxygen + 12.5% nitrogen plasma; group C, control. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed after surface treatments. After topographical surface examinations, Visio.link primer (Bredent) (n = 10) was applied to the surface of half of the samples in each group (n = 20) and the veneering resin was polymerized onto the polyetheretherketone. The shear bond strengths were measured using a universal test machine. Results: The mean bond strengths of the Visio.link primer applied to group ArP and group ArONP (13.9 and 13.6 MPa, respectively) were statistically significantly higher than that of group C (9.0 MPa). The average shear bond strength of the Visio.link subgroups was higher than that of the Visio.link subgroups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The use of a methyl methacrylate-based adhesive (Visiolink) provides bonding between polyetheretherketone-veneering composites. Different plasma treatments without primer application had no significant effect on bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waste of polymeric materials in our society is increasing year after year, generating a serious pollution problem. One way to deal with this waste problem is to recycle and reuse these materials. This process of recovery of used plastic materials aims to minimise their impact on the environment and reduce the energy consumption required for the generation of new consumer products. Recycling companies that recover these plastic materials must take into account some aspects such as transparency and colour, cleanliness, size, odour and sorting. One of the major disadvantages in accepting these recycled materials in the production processes is their odour, which in some cases causes the rejection of materials with comparable mechanical characteristics. High-density polyethylene, HDPE, is one of the polymeric wastes generated in the packaging industry. The aim of this work is to eliminate the bad odour of HDPE from waste collection plants for application in the recovery and reuse industry. HDPE supplied by a recycling company was washed, characterised and processed, and the odour was analysed by gas chromatography at each stage and by olfactory panel. In view of the results, it was observed that the washing processes managed to reduce the odour. Likewise, the processing of this waste by extrusion and injection managed to further reduce this effect, even eliminating some of the components responsible for odour by treating the samples with acetone and then extruding and injecting these samples. These results have a direct application in the packaging industry with significant shares of recycled material., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Polymers play a crucial role in multiple industries; however, surface modification is necessary for certain applications. Exposure to non-thermal plasma provides a viable and environmentally beneficial option. Fused deposition molding utilizes biodegradable polylactic acid, although it encounters constraints in biomedical applications as a result of inadequate mechanical characteristics. This study investigates the effects of atmospheric pressure plasma generated by a dielectric barrier discharge system using helium and/or argon on the modification of polylactic acid surfaces, changes in their wettability properties, and alterations in their chemical composition. The plasma source was ignited in either He or Ar and was tailored to fit the best operational conditions for polymer exposure. The results demonstrated the enhanced wettability of the polymer surface following plasma treatment (up to 40% in He and 20% in Ar), with a marginal variation observed among treatments utilizing different gases. The plasma treatments also caused changes in the surface topography, morphology, roughness, and hydrophilicity. Plasma exposure also resulted in observable modifications in the dielectric characteristics, phase transition, and structure. The experimental findings endorse the utilization of plasma technologies at normal air pressure for environmentally friendly processing of polymer materials, specifically for applications that necessitate enhanced adhesion and have carefully selected prerequisites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new trend in plasma surface engineering, plasma conditions that allow more-defined chemical reactions at the surface are being increasingly investigated. This is achieved by avoiding high energy deposition via ion bombardment during direct plasma exposure (DPE) causing destruction, densification, and a broad variety of chemical reactions. In this work, a novel approach is introduced by placing a polymer mesh with large open area close to the plasma–sheath boundary above the plasma-treated sample, thus enabling near-plasma chemistry (NPC). The mesh size effectively extracts ions, while reactive neutrals, electrons, and photons still reach the sample surface. The beneficial impact of this on the plasma activation of poly (tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) to enhance wettability and on the plasma polymerization of siloxanes, combined with the etching of residual hydrocarbons to obtain highly porous SiOx coatings at low temperatures, is discussed. Characterization of the treated samples indicates a predominant chemical modification yielding enhanced film structures and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) are increasingly being used to functionalize polymers and dielectric materials for biomedical and biotechnology applications. Once such application is microfluidic labs-on-a-chip consisting of dielectric slabs with microchannel grooves hundreds of microns in width and depth. The periodic channels, an example of a complex surface, present challenges in terms of directly and uniformly exposing the surface to the plasma. In this paper, we discuss results from computational and experimental investigations of negative APPJs sustained in Ar/N2 mixtures flowing into ambient air and incident onto a series of microchannels. Results from two-dimensional plasma hydrodynamics modeling are compared to experimental measurements of electric field and fast-camera imaging. The propagation of the plasma across dry microchannels largely consists of a sequence of surface ionization waves (SIWs) on the top ridges of the channels and bulk ionization waves (IWs) crossing over the channels. The IWs are directed into electric field enhanced vertices of the next ridge. The charging of these ridges produce reverse IWs responsible for the majority of the ionization. The propagation of the plasma across water filled microchannels evolve into hopping SIWs between the leading edges of the water channels, regions of electric enhancement due to polarization of the water. Positive, reverse IWs follow the pre-ionized path of the initial negative waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northward shift of Pyropia yezoensis aquaculture required the breeding of germplasms with tolerance to the oxidative stress due to the high light conditions of the North Yellow Sea area. The MPV17/PMP22 family proteins were identified as a molecule related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Here, one of the MPV17 homolog genes designated as PyM-LP2 was selected for functional identification by introducing the encoding sequence region/reverse complementary fragment into the Py. yezoensis genome. Although the photosynthetic activity, the respiratory rate, and the ROS level in wild type (WT) and different gene-transformed algal strains showed similar levels under normal conditions, the overexpression (OE) strain exhibited higher values of photosynthesis, respiration, and reducing equivalents pool size but lower intracellular ROS production under stress conditions compared with the WT. Conversely, all the above parameters showed opposite variation trends in RNAi strain as those in the OE strain. This implied that the PyM-LP2 protein was involved in the mitigation of the oxidative stress. Sequence analysis revealed that this PyM-LP2 protein was assorted to peroxisomes and might serve as a poring channel for transferring malate (Mal) to peroxisomes. By overexpressing PyM-LP2, the transfer of Mal from chloroplasts to peroxisomes was enhanced under stress conditions, which promoted photorespiration and ultimately alleviated excessive reduction of the photosynthetic electron chain. This research lays the groundwork for the breeding of algae with enhanced resistance to oxidative stresses., (© 2024 Phycological Society of America.)

Available literature on the aging of plasma-activated polyethylene due to hydrophobic recovery has been reviewed and critically assessed. A common method for the evaluation of hydrophobic recovery is the determination of the static water contact angle, while the surface free energy does not reveal significant correlations. Surface-sensitive methods for the characterization of chemical composition and structure have limited applicability in studying the aging phenomenon. Aging is driven by thermodynamics, so it is observed even upon storage in a vacuum, and hydrophobic recovery increases with increasing temperature. Storage of plasma-activated polyethylene in the air at ambient conditions follows almost logarithmic behavior during the period studied by most authors; i.e., up to one month. The influence of the storage medium is somehow controversial because some authors reported aging suppression by storing in polar liquids, but others reported the loss of hydrophilicity even after a brief immersion into distilled water. Methods for suppressing aging by hydrophobic recovery include plasma treatment at elevated temperature followed by brief treatment at room temperature and application of energetic ions and photons in the vacuum ultraviolet range. Storing at low temperatures is a trivial alternative, but not very practical. The aging of plasma-activated polyethylene suppresses the adhesion of many coatings, but the correlation between the surface free energy and the adhesion force has yet to be addressed adequately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the tensile strength of adhesive joints in steel, focusing on the influence of heat treatment and diverse surface modifications. Results indicate a notable relationship between annealing temperature and tensile strength, with the most favorable outcomes identified at 90 min and 165 °C. Particularly, surfaces treated through turning, sandblasting, and plasma treatment (type C) consistently outperformed other methods. A standout revelation emerged from the turned, sandblasted, and plasma-treated surface (C), showcasing an exceptional tensile strength of 69.06 MPa. Load-holding tests underscored its resilience under diverse load conditions. Surface analyses, including roughness measurements, wetting characteristics, and Scanning Electron Microscope imaging, provided valuable insights into structural transformations induced by different treatments. Chemical composition examinations unveiled significant alterations post-plasma treatment, impacting surface chemistry and contributing to an outstanding tensile strength of 67.63 MPa. In essence, this research offers a glimpse into the nuanced factors influencing adhesive joint strength in steel. The turned, sandblasted, and plasma-treated surface emerges as a promising avenue, sparking further curiosity into the underlying mechanisms propelling superior tensile strength in adhesive joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fill product residues in packagings are equivalent to product losses. They are washed out after sorting and before commencing recycling processes. Not much data have been published about how much fill product is still present in packagings dedicated for recycling. Results are often from laboratory trials. Therefore, several hundred packagings from a sorting plant of a dual system in Germany were analysed to determine the amount of fill product residues. Approximately 10 wt. % of highly viscous fill products in tubes were lost as residue. In the case of packagings that were easy to empty, such as cups, and in the case of low-viscosity fill products, such as water, less than 1 wt. % of the fill products remained in the packagings. The mean amount of residue in relation to clean packaging was 0.9 g residue in 1 g of packaging material (without residue) in tubes and 0.07 g in PET bottles. These values were significantly lower for low-viscosity fill products compared to high-viscosity fill products, as expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast and straightforward fabrication process for producing a robust, flexible, and transparent conductive film was demonstrated using nanowelding of Ag nanowires through pressure-assisted microwave irradiation. This innovative process effectively reduces the sheet resistance of the Ag nanowire transparent conductive film without causing any thermal distortion to the PET substrate. The microwave irradiation induces nanowelding between Ag nanowires, leading to a decrease in sheet resistance by forming nanowelding junctions. This selective heating of Ag nanowires further enhances the reduction in sheet resistance. Additionally, the application of pressure-assisted microwave irradiation allows the Ag nanowires to be embedded into the PET substrate, resulting in the formation of a robust film capable of withstanding cycling bending stress. The pressure-assisted microwave irradiation process proves to be a strong fabrication method for creating Ag nanowire transparent conductive films, especially when dealing with thermally weak substrate materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study thermal and structural properties characterization were performed for prepared ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/carbon nanotube (UHMWPE/CNT) nanocomposite sheets by using a melt compounding method. The sheets were prepared by using six types of CNTs; pristine single walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs), oxidized- SWCNT and MWCNT, and amide- SWCNT and MWCNT. Thermogravimetric analysis results revealed that the addition of CNTs increased the nanocomposites thermal stability (17 °C) being produced by P-MWCNT. Differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction (XRD) results show no significant crystalline structure changes compared with the pure polymer, and increase in crystallinity (4%) for O-SWCNTs additions (4%). Scanning electron microscope images showed improved bridging in the polymer matrix by using oxidized and functionalized CNTs compared with pristine CNTs. These findings suggest that the durability of UHMWPE is enhanced by this nano-modification method, improving its suitability for many lightweight, high strength material applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the rapid development of the economy and great progress in science and technology, people have become increasingly concerned about their quality of life and physical health. In order to pursue a higher life, various functional and biomimetic textiles have emerged one after another and have been sought after by people. There are many animal and plant surfaces with special wettability in nature, and their unique "micro-nano structures" and low surface energy have attracted extensive attention from researchers. Researchers have prepared various textiles with superhydrophobic features by mimicking these unique structures. This review introduces the typical organisms with superhydrophobicity in nature, using lotus, water strider, and cicada as examples, and describes their morphological features and excellent superhydrophobicity. The theoretical model, commonly used raw materials, and modification technology of superhydrophobic surfaces are analyzed. In addition, the application areas and the current study status of superhydrophobic surfaces for textiles are also summarized. Finally, the development prospects for superhydrophobic textiles based on bionic technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study's aim is a comparison of the plasma-induced effects on polymers exposed in helium and argon gaseous environments in a pulsed dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure. Cellulose-based and synthetic polymers are tested with regard to a range of parameters, such as wettability, adhesion, surface energy and polarity, the oxygen amount in their structure, and surface morphology. The surface properties are analyzed by contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy images. The results point to the efficient and remarkably stable modifications of the plasma-exposed surfaces, such as their enhanced adhesion, surface energy, and oxygen incorporation. Additionally, plasma provides significant oxygen uptake in cellulose-based materials that bear already prior to treatment a high amount of oxygen in their structure. The comparison between the properties of the non-permeable, homogeneous, smooth-surface synthetic polymer and those of the loosely packed, porous, heterogeneous cellulose-based polymers points to the different rates of plasma-induced modification, whereby a progressive alteration of cellulosic surface properties over much larger ranges of exposure durations is noted. Present experimental conditions ensure mild treatments on such sensitive material, such as paper, and this is without alterations of the surface morphology and the physical degradation of the material over a large range of treatment duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is considerable interest in seeking an environmentally friendly technique that is neither thermally nor organic solvent-dependent for producing advanced polymer films for food-packaging applications. Among different approaches, plasma polymerization is a promising method that can deposit biodegradable coatings on top of polymer films. In this study, an atmospheric-pressure aerosol-assisted plasma deposition method was employed to develop a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-like coating, which can act as a potential matrix for antimicrobial agents, by envisioning controlled-release food-packaging applications. Different plasma operating parameters, including the input power, monomer flow rate, and gap between the edge of the plasma head and substrate, were optimized to produce a PEG-like coating with a desirable water stability level and that can be biodegradable. The findings revealed that increased distance between the plasma head and substrate intensified gas-phase nucleation and diluted the active plasma species, which in turn led to the formation of a non-conformal rough coating. Conversely, at short plasma–substrate distances, smooth conformal coatings were obtained. Furthermore, at low input powers (<250 W), the chemical structure of the precursor was mostly preserved with a high retention of C-O functional groups due to limited monomer fragmentation. At the same time, these coatings exhibit low stability in water, which could be attributed to their low cross-linking degree. Increasing the power to 350 W resulted in the loss of the PEG-like chemical structure, which is due to the enhanced monomer fragmentation at high power. Nevertheless, owing to the enhanced cross-linking degree, these coatings were more stable in water. Finally, it could be concluded that a moderate input power (250–300 W) should be applied to obtain an acceptable tradeoff between the coating stability and PEG resemblance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental data presented in the literature on the depth of processing of polymer films using low-temperature plasma are considered. Changes in the chemical composition and structure along the depth of the samples have been studied using the modern experimental techniques of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy; precision etching was carried out with an Ar+2500 cluster beam; and the pit depth was measured by profilometry. It has been found that the thickness of the modified layer is ≤50 nm and depends relatively little on the polymer nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we focus on a small section of the literature that deals with the materials containing pristine defective carbon nanostructures (CNs) and those incorporated into the larger systems containing carbon atoms, heteroatoms, and inorganic components.. Briefly, we discuss only those topics that focus on structural defects related to introducing perturbation into the surface topology of the ideal lattice structure. The disorder in the crystal structure may vary in character, size, and location, which significantly modifies the physical and chemical properties of CNs or their hybrid combination. We focus mainly on the method using microwave (MW) irradiation, which is a powerful tool for synthesizing and modifying carbon-based solid materials due to its simplicity, the possibility of conducting the reaction in solvents and solid phases, and the presence of components of different chemical natures. Herein, we will emphasize the advantages of synthesis using MW-assisted heating and indicate the influence of the structure of the obtained materials on their physical and chemical properties. It is the first review paper that comprehensively summarizes research in the context of using MW-assisted heating to modify the structure of CNs, paying attention to its remarkable universality and simplicity. In the final part, we emphasize the role of MW-assisted heating in creating defects in CNs and the implications in designing their properties and applications. The presented review is a valuable source summarizing the achievements of scientists in this area of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five trifluoroacetylacetonate (tfaa−) complexes [Tm(tfaa)3(H2O)]2, [Tm(tfaa)3(H2O)2], [Tm(tfaa)3(H2O)2] · diglyme, [Tm(tfaa)3(DME)] (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) and [TmCl2(tfaa)(diglyme)] (diglyme = bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether) of thulium have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal structure analysis and spectroscopic techniques. Thermoanalytical studies at elevated temperatures provide information about their volatility. The results are compared with the hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfaa−) complexes of thulium known in the literature, which were reported as volatile precursors for CVD application. The reported high volatility of [Tm(hfaa)3(DME)] was confirmed and compared with those of the aqueous complexes which show a lower transport rate. In addition, the new crystal structures of the hexafluoroacetylacetonate complexes [Tm(hfaa)3(H2O)2], [Tm(hfaa)2(tfa)(H2O)2]2 (tfa− = trifluoroacetate), [Tm(hfaa)3(DME)NaCl]2 and Na[Tm(hfaa)4] are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning (ML) is used to provide reactions rates appropriate for models of low temperature plasmas with a focus on A + B → C + D binary chemical reactions. The regression model is trained on data extracted from the QBD, KIDA, NFRI and UfDA databases. The regression model used a variety of data on the reactant and product species, some of which also had to be estimated using ML. The final model is a voting regressor comprising three distinct optimized regression models: a support vector regressor, random forest regressor and a gradient-boosted trees regressor model; this model is made freely available via a GitHub repository. As a sample use case, the ML results are used to augment the chemistry of a BCl3/H2 gas mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fouling of polymeric membranes is a common problem due to its hydrophobic nature. Plasma assisted surface modification of polymeric membranes are immensely popular method in particular for the improvement of antifouling and adhesive properties. The effect of low‐pressure nitrogen plasma on surface morphology, hydrophilicity, structure, permeate flux and ageing effect for the cellulose nitrate polymer membrane are studied in the present work. The cylindrical Langmuir probe and optical emission spectroscopy are used to characterize the plasma. The macro void creation and pore enlargement effects have been observed from scanning electron microscopy images due to the surface etching of the membrane after plasma treatment. The atomic force microscopy analysis shows a prominent enhancement of the surface roughness of the plasma treated membrane. Wettability of membrane is studied as a function of plasma treatment time for treated and untreated membrane. From the contact angle measurement, it is found that the hydrophilicity of the plasma treated membranes increases with plasma treatment time. From gravity filtration process, the enhancement of permeate flux for both waste water and mud water are observed after plasma treatment. The ageing mechanism of the treated membranes is investigated for 30 days for different plasma treatment time. The hydrophobic recovery of plasma treated membranes is significant for initial ageing period of 7 days, after that it has shown almost stable in nature. A theoretical model is developed to study the hydrophilic recovery of plasma treated membranes. It is observed that the experimental results show a very good agreement with the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calorimetry is a commonly used method in plasma characterization, but the accuracy of the method is tied to the accuracy of the recombination coefficient, which in turn depends on a number of surface effects. Surface effects also govern the kinetics in advanced methods such as atomic layer oxidation of inorganic materials and functionalization of organic materials. The flux of the reactive oxygen atoms for the controlled oxidation of such materials depends on the recombination coefficient of materials placed into the reaction chamber, which in turn depends on the surface morphology, temperature, and pressure in the processing chamber. The recombination coefficient of a well-oxidized cobalt surface was studied systematically in a range of temperatures from 300 to 800 K and pressures from 40 to 200 Pa. The coefficient increased monotonously with decreasing pressure and increasing temperature. The lowest value was about 0.05, and the highest was about 0.30. These values were measured for cobalt foils previously oxidized with oxygen plasma at the temperature of 1300 K. The oxidation caused a rich morphology with an average roughness as deduced from atomic force images of 0.9 µm. The results were compared with literature data, and the discrepancy between results reported by different authors was explained by taking into account the peculiarities of their experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated novel methods for treating the surface of nitrile‐butadiene rubber to enhance its stability and resistance to thermal oxidation and aggressive media. The rubber surface was modified using 1,1,2‐trifluoro‐1,2,2‐trichlorethane. The study found that the duration of the modification strongly affected specific properties of the rubbers examined. It was observed that surface modification with 1,1,2‐trifluoro‐1,2,2‐trichlorethane improved the properties of nitrile‐butadiene rubber. Subsequently, the impact of the modification duration on morphology, thermal resistance, and chemical resistance was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyridine‐containing polyethersulfone films are being studied extensively as they are considered promising types of polymer electrolyte membranes to be used in high‐temperature fuel cell (HT‐PEMFC) applications. In this study, modified polyethersulfone films doped with phosphoric acid were bombarded by a 3 keV argon ion beam resulting in a different chemical environment at the end of the sputtering process. X ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to analyze the changes that occurred due to the exposure to the beam, confirming that distinct species appeared and indicating that reactions between the acid and the film occurred. These changes cause the formation of new phosphine‐based structures and point out the impact of ions as a crucial factor in the degradation of doped polyethersulfone films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]