Plasma electrochemistry in ionic liquids: an alternative route to generate nanoparticles.

In this perspective, the application of stable glow discharge plasmas as free electrodes for the generation of nanoparticles in ionic liquids is reported. The basic concepts of plasma electrochemistry as well as a few other concepts in this field will be presented. One focus is the interaction of the plasma with the ionic liquids itself and possible influences on the production process of the particles. Several examples of the plasma generation and characterisation of nanoparticles in ionic liquids will be presented. The starting point is thereby the generation of noble metals and at the end the efforts to synthesize semiconductor nanoparticles will be discussed. In all examples the benefits, the difficulties and the challenges of this method and the outcome for the future will be addressed.