ANAPURNA is an Automated platform for complex nanocomposite coatings. Its development is in progress in the frame of the DIADEM project (PEPR). It is part of a dedicated gas-phase synthesis platform of the FastNano project. Since 2015, LEDNA has developed an original and safe-by-design method for the elaboration of nanostructured films composed of nanoparticles embedded in a matrix (FR1257770, FR1562865, FR1660027). This versatile single step process operates under vacuum by combining the jet of nanoparticles technology with classical magnetron sputtering, which allows the choice of the chemical nature of nanoparticles and matrix independently and in a wide range. In order to accelerate the development of new functional materials, an in situ and real-time monitoring of chemical elemental composition of the coatings will be performed, by LIBS, during the film growth on different points of the deposit. This will allow the control of the density and distribution uniformity of the nanoparticles in the coatings on their surface and in their thickness. A feedback loop from LIBS data will provide real-time adjustment of the deposition parameters and of the NPs synthesis parameters as well. As real-time LIBS data analysis is complex regarding to multiple component acquired spectra, IA algorithms will be used to classify and quantify by statistical learning methods.
These coatings come in the form of nanoparticles coated with a matrix of a different material. The nanoparticles are delivered aerodynamically using aerodynamic lenses. The prototype includes 3 aerodynamic lenses allowing the simultaneous or sequential deposition of 3 different types of nanoparticles on the same surface of a substrate. The material composing the matrix is deposited simultaneously by magnetron sputtering using 3 cathodes which can be used either simultaneously or sequentially.
The resulting coating can therefore be a complex assembly in its thickness, with variable matrix and nanoparticle compositions. The following figure gives an example of the complexity that can be achieved with the prototype.
The ANAPURNA prototype is currently under construction. The following figure is an artistic view of the future setup that will be available by 2025.
