Ultra-thin flexible glass (UTFG) is an emerging material with perspective to revolutionize industries reliant on optoelectronics, photovoltaics, and flexible displays. Its unique combination of chemical stability, transparency, and flexibility positions it as a superior alternative to conventional substrates. However, the low surface energy and fragility of UTFG present challenges for applying functional organic coatings, such as conductive transparent polymer PEDOT:PSS.
This work explores the use of atmospheric-pressure plasma as a dry, contactless, scalable, and eco-friendly solution for cleaning and activating UTFG prior to thin films deposition. Plasma treatment enhances the surface energy of UTFG by incorporating oxygen-based functional groups, significantly improving surface wettability and quality of deposited coatings. Two atmospheric-pressure air plasma sources, Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) and industrial corona, were tested in configurations suitable for roll-to-roll manufacturing. Results showed that a brief plasma exposure (0.1–3 seconds) outperformed traditional wet cleaning methods in terms of speed, effectiveness, and environmental impact.
The study demonstrated the industrial viability of plasma-treated UTFG through improved uniformity and conductivity of PEDOT:PSS-based
thin films. Plasma-modified UTFG exhibited a reduction in water contact angle from 77° to below 5°, without changing surface roughness. The conductive thin films achieved lower sheet resistance, higher conductivity, and similar uniformity compared to coatings on liquid-cleaned UTFG. These findings underline the potential of plasma technology for enabling high-throughput, sustainable production of advanced coated glass products.
As industries strive for greener and more efficient manufacturing processes, integrating plasma pre-treatment into UTFG production can unlock new possibilities for optoelectronic devices and composite glass systems. This work highlights a pivotal step toward bridging laboratory research with industrial scalability, versatility, and sustainability.
This research has been supported by the project LM2023039 funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
Slavomír Sihelník
Atmospheric Plasma Pre-Treatment of Ultra-Thin Flexible Glass for Transparent Organic Coatings
Company: Masaryk University, Czechia
About the speaker:
Dr. Slavomír Sihelník is a researcher at the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia. His research focuses on applied physics with emphasis on surface science and plasma processing. His expertise includes surface analysis, surface modification, and applications of plasma in materials engineering. He has been involved in various projects related to plasma and nanotechnology modifications of float glass surfaces prior to lamination.
