Sheathbased

Sheathbased, often written sheath-based, is an adjective used across disciplines to describe systems, processes, or devices that rely on or manipulate a boundary layer known as a sheath.

In plasma physics and surface engineering, a sheath is the electric potential layer that forms near a material boundary due to differences in mobility between electrons and ions. A sheathbased technique or process uses this boundary to control ion energies, currents, and surface interactions, influencing outcomes in etching, deposition, or coating growth. In materials science, sheath-based designs can describe core–shell structures where an outer sheath or shell governs properties such as diffusion, stability, or functional performance.

In biomedical contexts, sheath-based delivery systems use a protective sheath to guide devices through tissue or vessels, improving maneuverability and safety.

Because the term is not standardized, its exact meaning depends on context. In general, sheathbased denotes reliance on boundary-layer properties to achieve a particular effect, such as field shaping, protection, or controlled transport.