LAUSR

Abstract Hybrid silica/carbon particles were synthesized from rice husk as sustainable precursor material. Synthesized material was subjected to low temperature plasma treatments in presence of different gas sources like Argon, Oxygen and Sulphur Hexafluoride. Effects of plasma treatments were characterized using various techniques. It was found that plasma treatments were effective in altering surface properties like surface binding energies, functionalities and morphology. Plasma treatments did not have any substantial effects on bulk properties of rice husk biochar. However, in case of oxygen plasma treatments it was found to be effective in surface level etching resulting in increased nanoporous structure.