Ageing of thin Ag/fluorocarbon plasma polymer nanocomposite films exposed to water-based electrolytes

Ag-containing fluorocarbon plasma polymer nanocomposite films were synthesized by combining plasma polymerization of heptadecafluoro-1-decene (HDFD) with electron beam evaporation of silver. The chemical structure and the microstructure of the Ag/HDFD plasma polymer nanocomposite films were characterized by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The effect of annealing on the microstructure of silver nanoparticles and the optical properties of the Ag/HDFD plasma polymer nanocomposite films was investigated. In particular, the microstructural, barrier and optical properties of Ag/HDFD plasma polymer nanocomposite films were studied by means of HRTEM, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy during the ageing process in water-based electrolytes. The microstructure of silver nanoparticles changed morphologically during the ageing process based on the combination of atomic metal diffusion, coalescence between particles and electrochemical Ostwald ripening driven by the size dependence of the work function and standard electrode potential.