A METHOD FOR STABILIZING SUPER-HYDROPHOBIC CARBON NANOPARTICLE COATINGS

The invention relates to a method, applicable to physics, chemistry, biology and the technical sciences, particularly in sensor technologies which use mass-sensitive sensors in the base of volumes or surface acoustic waves. According to the proposed method for stabilizing super-hydrophobic carbon particle coatings, which have been applied over the active part of volumes or surface acoustic wave sensors, the manufacture and application of a stabilizing polymer layer over the super-hydrophobic coating of carbon nanoparticles is simultaneously accomplished via plasma polymerization. The width of the stabilizing polymer layer is lesser than the size the carbon nanoparticles. The advantages of the method lie in the fact that the active sensor surface remains in constant contact with the super-hydrophobic nanoparticle layer, whilst the plasma polymer penetrates in the spaces between the particles and attaches firmly to the surface of the sensor, thus not allowing the particles to separate or wash off during contact with liquids or gases, while the sensor is in use. The layer, stabilized in this manner, not only keeps its super-hydrophobic properties but moreover causes a minor infraction on the sensitivity, dynamic range and noise scope of the sensor. Also, the plasma process of coating the stabilizing polymer layer allows for precise control over its parameters and width, which enables a high amount of repetitive reproduction of the specific characteristics the sensor has. The stabilized super-hydrophobic nanoparticle coating sensors, which use mass-sensitive sensors on the base of volumes or surface acoustic waves can be used in expertise medical diagnostic systems, observation of environmental and water pollution as well as various biological and chemical liquid and gas analytic systems.