Nanostructured plasma polymer coatings on novel silica structures

Extremely thin films of acetylene of the order of 30 nm have been deposited using RF Plasma polymerization method on nanostructured porous silica. The thickness of the films were determined and optimized by ellipsometry. The films were characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy. The surface energy modification was determined using the contact angle technique. The mechanical properties of the films were studied by nanoindentation and nanoscratch testing.