1.3 Radio Frequency Glow Discharge (RFGD) TreatmentA typical radio frequency glow discharge (RFGD) device consists of a chamber filled with dilute gas (e.g. oxygen/air, carbon tetrafluoride, or argon), and a coil wrapped around the chamber that provides the voltage needed to excite the gas (Figure 1.3). The gas in the chamber ionizes (i.e. becomes a plasma) when the voltage reaches the trigger voltage and begins to conduct electricity, causing it to glow. The color depends on the gas used. The RFGD treatment involves the removal of impurities and weakly bound organic contaminations from surfaces through the use of energetic plasma created by gaseous species. The device is connected to a vacuum to remove all airborne contaminants and debris produced during the process. RFGD can treat a wide range of materials, as well as surfaces with a high level of roughness and different geometries. It can be applied to electrically conductive or non-conductive samples, whether they are bulk solids or layered materials. It is very important that RFGD has its own capabilities, which expand the use of analytical methods based on the use of glow discharge. Figure 1.3 – A simple RFGD treatment device. Before treatment (left), during treatment (right). (308 Squire Hall, SUNY UB 2016)Plasma TreatmentPlasma, one of the four fundamental states of matter, exists in the form of ions and electrons. Basically, plasma is any ionized gas that has extra electrons. Plasma is electrically conductive due to the presence of charge loads. Furthermore, plasma behaves like a gas; no defined shape or defined volume. Plasma is abundant in the universe; natural events are observed in the illumination and aurora borealis (northern light... in the center of the paper... adaptable, sanitized and ready for further processing. During this process, light is emitted (discharged) from the molecules of Excited gases and atoms in the plasma. When the atoms and molecules "relax" into their normal lower energy states, they release photons of light. This is what makes the plasma "glow." Using a different gas can provide a different result, for example, treatment with carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) plasma forms hydrophobic coatings of fluorine-containing groups (CF, CF2, CF3) and decreases the number of end groups. hydrophilic polars on surfaces; surface wettability. Figure 1.4 – Cleaning scheme of a substrate by plasma discharge. Note the removal of adsorbed molecules by bombardment on the surface and the presence of dangling bonds (Wikipedia – the Free Encyclopedia).).).