Generation of uniform atmospheric pressure argon glow plasma by dielectric barrier discharge

In this paper, atmospheric pressure glow discharges (APGD) in argon generated in parallel plate dielectric barrier discharge system is investigated by means of electrical and optical measurements. Using a high voltage (0–20 kV) power supply operating at 10–30 kHz, homogeneous and steady APGD has been observed between the electrodes with gap spacing from 0.5 mm to 2 mm and with a dielectric barrier of thickness 2 mm while argon gas is fed at a controlled flow rate of 1 l/min. The electron temperature and electron density of the plasma are determined by means of optical emission spectroscopy. Our results show that the electron density of the discharge obtained is of the order of 10¹⁶ cm^???3 while the electron temperature is estimated to be 0.65 eV. The important result is that electron density determined from the line intensity ratio method and stark broadening method are in very good agreement. The Lissajous figure is used to estimate the energy deposited to the glow discharge. It is found that the energy deposited to the discharge is in the range of 20 to 25 μJ with a discharge voltage of 1.85 kV. The energy deposited to the discharge is observed to be higher at smaller gas spacing. The glow discharge plasma is tested to be effective in reducing the hydrophobicity of polyethylene film significantly.     

Two-Photon Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectra of Argon in a Grimm-Style Glow Discharge Tube

Two-photon excited laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of argon atom were successfully observed in a Grimm-style glow discharge tube, which has widely been applied to depth profiling of the elemental composition on various film-like samples by emission spectrometry. The LIF signal of an argon atomic line at 641.63 nm was observed when the glow discharge argon plasma was illuminated by a pulsed Ti:sapphire laser radiation of 7–10 mJ/pulse at 753.39 or 795.66 nm without focusing of the laser beam.     

A novel and shortcut method to prepare ionic liquid gel polymer electrolyte membranes for lithium-ion battery

The ionic liquid polymer electrolyte (IL-PE) membrane is prepared by ultraviolet (UV) cross-linking technology with polyurethane acrylate (PUA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), ionic liquid (Py₁₃TFSI), lithium salt (LiTFSI), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). N-methyl-N-propyl pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Py₁₃TFSI) ionic liquid is synthesized by mixing N-methyl-N-propyl pyrrolidinium bromide (Py₁₃Br) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). The addition of Py₁₃TFSI to polymer electrolyte membranes leads to network structures by the chain cross-linking. The resultant electrolyte membranes display the room temperature ionic conductivity of 1.37 × 10^?3 S cm^?1 and the lithium ions transference number of 0.22. The electrochemical stability window of IL-PE is about 4.8 V (vs. Li⁺/Li), indicating sufficient electrochemical stability. The interfacial resistances between the IL-PE and the electrodes have the less change after 10 cycles than before 10 cycles. IL-PE has better compatibility with the LiFePO₄ electrode and the Li electrode after 10 cycles. The first discharge performance of Li/IL-PE/LiFePO₄ half-cell shows a capacity of 151.9 mAh g^?1 and coulombic efficiency of 87.9%. The discharge capacity is 131.9 mAh g^?1 with 95.5% coulombic efficiency after 80 cycles. Therefore, the battery using the IL-PE exhibits a good cycle and rate performance.     

Glow discharge plasma electrolysis for nanoparticles synthesis

There are many methods available to synthesize nanomaterials and the glow discharge plasma electrolysis is a novel and a green method in this category. It is seen that most of the papers are published after 2005 and the interest in it is growing due to its applicability in the industry for preparing nanomaterials at large scale. But, only few results are available yet and most of them are on metal nanoparticle preparation, so that more studies are needed to understand the nature of growth of the nanoparticles under glow discharge in liquid and its applicability in preparing semi-conductor nanomaterials. Many have tried many methods to prepare nanoparticles by the glow discharge and a review like this is the need of the time to understand its present status that helps to modify the present situation to a better one. This review classifies all the available methods of nanomaterials synthesis in liquid by glow discharge in to three and it is discussed in detail.     

Physicochemical properties and toxicological assessment of modified CdS nanoparticles

The synthesis procedure represents a key aspect in designing the physical and chemical properties of gold nanoparticles. The current study proposes a simple approach for gold nanoparticles synthesis using non-thermal plasma. The novelty of the setup consists in producing an in-liquid plasma discharge in argon bubbles that are externally generated in the solution exposed to treatment. Because plasma is the source of active species which are directly involved in gold reduction, no additional reducing agent was necessary. Collagen protein was used as capping agent. A plasma treatment of 10 min is sufficient for obtaining stable colloidal solutions with UV-Vis absorption maximum at 530 nm. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed preponderant spherical nanoparticles with dimensions in the range of 6–20 nm. The method of synthesis distinguishes by its good reproducibility, facility, efficiency, and ability to generate stable colloidal nanoparticles after several minutes of plasma exposure.     

Plasma discharge with bulk glow in the liquid phase exposed to ultrasound

It is shown that a specific form of the electric discharge with bulk glow in the entire space between electrodes and an increasing current-voltage characteristic inherent to the anomalous glow discharge in gas can exist in a liquid exposed to an intense ultrasonic field above the cavitation threshold. Such a discharge can be initiated between planar or rod electrodes in liquid in the mode of developed cavitation excited by an ultrasonic acoustic field. It is found that a plasma pinch is formed during cavitation between electrodes immersed into liquid. The pinch is stable at relatively low voltages (??30?C60 V) and currents (4?C8 A).     

Effect of Analyte Concentration on the Laser-Induced Plasma Temperature and Electron Density in Liquid Matrix

In the present work, we report spectroscopic studies of laser-induced plasmas produced by focusing the second harmonic (532 nm) of a Nd:YAG laser onto the laminar flow of a liquid containing chromium. The plasma temperature is determined from the coupled Saha–Boltzmann plot and the electron density is evaluated from the Stark broadening of an ionic line of chromium [Cr(II)] at 267.7 nm. Our results reveal a decrease in plasma temperature with an increase in Cr concentration up to a certain concentration level; after that, it becomes approximately constant, while the electron density increases with an increase in analyte (Cr) concentration in liquid matrix.     

Synthesis of nano ZnO thin film on Al foil by rf glow discharge plasma and its effect on E. coli and P. aeruginosa

Nano ZnO thin films were deposited on thin Al foils by a rf glow discharge plasma method in which sublimed zinc acetate vapor (precursor) reacted with oxygen plasma inside a low-pressure reactor. The films were microstructurally characterized using XRD, TEM, FESEM, optical reflectance and micro-Raman spectroscopy methods. In view of the good scope of ZnO coating in food packaging, the antibacterial activity in the ZnO thin films was studied by exposing the films to E. coli and P. aeruginosa for up to 8 h. Bacterial cell inhibition of up to 98–99 % was observed in the thin films.     

Experimental study of the stability of the interface between a liquid electrolyte and the glow discharge plasma

The stability of the interface between a liquid electrolyte and the plasma of a contracted low-pressure dc glow discharge in air is investigated by means of digital photography. Water solutions of potassium permanganate and copper sulfate were used as electrolytes. It is found that, in the case of potassium permanganate, the instability of the interface leads to ejection of the electrolyte into the plasma and extinction of the discharge. Discharge modes with different types of quasi-steady interface are observed for copper sulfate at different values of the discharge current: a smooth interface, a solitary wave perturbation, regular ripples, and a churning foamed turbulent mixing zone.     

Electrochemical characterization of ionic liquid based gel polymer electrolyte for lithium battery application

High molecular weight polymer poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP), ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (EMIMFSI), and salt lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)-based free-standing and conducting ionic liquid-based gel polymer electrolytes (ILGPE) have been prepared by solution cast method. Thermal, electrical, and electrochemical properties of 80 wt% IL containing gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) are investigated by thermogravimetric (TGA), impedance spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The 80 wt% IL containing GPE shows good thermal stability (~?200 °C), ionic conductivity (6.42?×?10^?4 S cm^?1), lithium ion conductivity (1.40?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 at 30 °C), and wide electrochemical stability window (~?4.10 V versus Li/Li⁺ at 30 °C). Furthermore, the surface of LiFePO₄ cathode material was modified by graphene oxide, with smooth and uniform coating layer, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and with element content, as confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum. The graphene oxide-coated LiFePO₄ cathode shows improved electrochemical performance with a good charge-discharge capacity and cyclic stability up to 50 cycles at 1C rate, as compared with the without coated LiFePO₄. At 30 °C, the discharge capacity reaches a maximum value of 104.50 and 95.0 mAh g^?1 for graphene oxide-coated LiFePO₄ and without coated LiFePO₄ at 1C rate respectively. These results indicated improved electrochemical performance of pristine LiFePO₄ cathode after coating with graphene oxide.     

Comparative Study on Excitation Mechanism of Chromium Emission Lines in Argon Radio‐Frequency Inductively‐Coupled Plasma,Nitrogen Microwave Induced Plasma,and Argon or Nitrogen Glow Discharge Plasmas

Boltzmann plots of both atomic and ionic chromium emission lines are investigated to compare the excitation mechanisms in four different plasmas: an argon inductively‐coupled plasma (Ar‐ICP), a nitrogen high‐power microwave induced plasma (N₂‐MIP), an argon glow discharge plasma (Ar‐GDP), and a nitrogen glow discharge plasma (N₂‐GDP). The plots of the atomic lines and the ionic lines give both linear relationships as well as similar excitation temperatures in the case of the Ar‐ICP, the N₂‐MIP, and the N₂‐GDP. It implies that a thermodynamic process such as electron collision would control their excitations. However, only in the case of the ionic‐line plot in the Ar‐GDP, a departure from linear relationship is observed and the estimated excitation temperature is rather higher than that with the atomic lines, meaning that a specific excitation mechanism exists in the Ar‐GDP. A possible explanation for these results is that a charge‐transfer collision between chromium atom and argon ion plays a dominant role in exciting highly‐lying energy levels of chromium ion, especially in the Ar‐GDP.     

Effect of α-irradiation of energy 0.5 MeV on the hydrogen bonding in a-Si:H thin films

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin films (a-Si:H) have been prepared by the rf glow discharge technique. The configuration of bonded hydrogen was investigated by infrared absorption measurements of Si:H vibrational modes before and after bombardment with an α-particle beam energy of 125 keV/n. The results showed an increase in the absorption mode near 2100, 890 and 850 cm^?1 and a decrease in the absorption mode near 2000 cm^?1 after bombardment. These observations are interpreted in terms of changes of the oscillator strengths of vibrational modes.     

Surface and bulk modification of melamineformaldehyde (MF-R) microparticles suspended in a complex plasma

Changes in the surface layer of melamineformaldehyde (MF-R) microparticles (spheres of the diameter 4.86 ± 0.07 μm) in a direct current glow discharge plasma in neon after their exposure to plasma for 10, 20, and 40 min have been studied experimentally. Microparticles were placed into the composition of ordered plasma-dust structures and were subsequently removed. The results of atomic force and electron microscopy studies of the surface layer profile are presented. An evaluation of the quantitative data on surface layer destruction and the character of its modification are discussed.     

ICP等离子体鞘层附近区域发光光谱特性分析

为了独立控制鞘层附近区域离子密度和离子能最分布,采用光发射谱(OES)测量技术,对不同射频功率、放电气压和基底偏压下感应耦合等离子体鞘层附近区域辉光特性进行了研究.原子谱线和离子谱线特性分析表明,在鞘层附近区域感应耦合等离子体具有较高的离子密度和较低的电子温度.改变放电气压和射频功率,对得到的光谱特性分析表明,鞘层附近区域离子密度随射频功率的增大而线性增大,在低压下随气压的升高而增大.低激发电位原子谱线强度增加迅速,高激发电位原子谱线强度增加缓慢,而离子谱线强度增加很不明显.改变基底直流偏压,对得到的发射光谱强度变化分析表明,谱线强度随基底正偏压的增加而增大.随着基底负偏压的加入,谱线强度先减小而后增大;直流偏压为-30 V时,光谱强度最弱.快速离子和电子是引起Ar激发和电离过程的主要能量来源.     

Synthesis of nanoparticles in an atmospheric pressure glow discharge

Nanopowders are produced in a low temperature, non-equilibrium plasma jet (APPJ), which produces a glow discharge at atmospheric pressure, for the first time. Amorphous carbon and iron nanoparticles have been synthesized from Acetylene and Ferrocene/H₂, respectively. High generation rates are achieved from the glow discharge at near-ambient temperature (40–80°C), and rise with increasing plasma power and precursor concentration. Fairly narrow particle size distributions are measured with a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and an aerosol electrometer (AEM), and are centered around 30–35 nm for carbon and 20–25 nm for iron. Particle characteristics analyzed by TEM and EDX reveal amorphous carbon and iron nanoparticles. The Fe particles are highly oxidized on exposure to air. Comparison of the mobility and micrograph diameters reveal that the particles are hardly agglomerated or unagglomerated. This is ascribed to the unipolar charge on particles in the plasma. The generated particle distributions are examined as a function of process parameters.     

Electrode design for a magnetically stabilized glow discharge

The operational characteristics of a magnetically stabilized glow discharge are investigated for several different experimental electrode configurations. In this parametric study, successive geometries were designed to accommodate and/or control specific aspects of the plasma glow process. In this manner, an electrode structure which optimizes discharge stability and promotes glow uniformity over an extended active volume, was ultimately achieved. The study teaches a promising new technique for significantly increasing the power density of high power gas lasers.Experimental data is in excellent correlation with predictions provided by a previous numerical study of this magnetic stabilization process.     

直流辉光放电等离子体激发光源自动调节控制系统

直流辉光放电过程中需要控制的三个重要工作参数为放电电流、放电电压和放电室内氩气气压.该文介绍了一种应用于直流辉光放电等离子体激发光源的自动调节控制系统,该控制系统在放电电流恒定的情况下调节放电室内氩气气压,实现了对放电电压的信号采集和自动控制.文卷阐述了该控制系统的设计思路、电路原理及控制方案.该自动调节控制系统改善了以往用手动调节时精度低且操作复杂的情况,提高了放电电压的控制精度,缩短了放电电压的稳定时间.文中给出了自动控制方式下激发源放电电压的稳定性测试结果,控制精度由手动调节时的4%FS改善为小于1%FS,放电电压稳定时间由手动时的大于90s缩短到30 s以内.采用该控制系统对中低合金钢和锡肯铜标准样品进行了样品精密度实验.元素含量分析精密度比手动调节方式显著提高,各元素含量测试结果的相对标准偏差(RSD)均优于3.5%.中低合金钢标准样品中Ti,Co,Mn元素含量测试结果的RSD范围由手动时的3.0%～4.3%减小到1.7%～2.4%,S和Mo元素RSD范围由5.2%～5.9%减小到3.3%～3.5%.锡青铜标准样品中Sn,Zn,Al元素RSD范围由2.6%～4.4%减小到1.0%～2.4%,Si,Ni,Fe元素的RSD范围由6.6%～13.9%降低到2.6%～3.5%,并给出了实测数据.     

Stability of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Al in ionic liquid BMI.BF<Subscript>4</Subscript>/γ-butyrolactone electrolytes for use in electrolytic capacitors

The stability of aluminium oxide has been investigated in mixtures of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF₄) and γ-butyrolactone (GBL) for application as the impregnation electrolyte of aluminium electrolytic capacitors. Ionic conductivity measurements of BMI.BF₄/GBL electrolytes at different temperatures were performed, as well as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry experiments. The results show that the highest ionic conductivity value of 40 mS cm^?1 (70 °C) is achieved in electrolyte x _BMI.BF4 = 0.2. The total capacitance values, associated with the dielectric oxides, vary between 1 and 8 μF cm^?2 for all studied electrolytes after 30 days of immersion. The polarization resistance and total capacitance of the electrolyte/Al₂O₃/Al system decrease slightly with immersion time, showing the stability of Al₂O₃/Al in ionic liquid BMI.BF₄/GBL electrolytes.     

Study of the thermoluminescence dosimetric properties of window glass

This paper presents the main thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetric characteristics of commercial Turkish transparent window glass. The structure of the glow curves, including the number of peaks, was found to be dose-dependent. A low-temperature glow peak that at 160 °C shifts to higher temperatures was also observed with increasing storage time at room temperature. This result suggests that this TL glow peak is actually made up of two or more overlapping peaks. These we have attributed to the glow peaks at lower temperatures, which decay faster than the ones at higher temperatures with storage time. The thermal fading of the window glass sample at room temperature showed a relatively sharp decay of about 60% occurring over a period of 28 days, after which the decay rate is small for a measured period of 250 days. In order to the improve the post-irradiation stability of the glow curve, the glass samples were heated after irradiation. To remove the unstable TL peaks responsible for the initial rapid fading, post-irradiation heating at 160 °C for 10 min was found to be the most suitable procedure. The dosimetric characteristics of the post-irradiation heated window glass examined in this study include fading, gamma photon dose-response, reproducibility, batch sensitivity, humidity influence, a dose-rate effect and photon energy response. Dose-response was found to be appropriate for dosimetry in the range 5 Gy to 10 kGy. The post-irradiation heating procedure did not affect the main dosimetric characteristics of the window glass samples. The results in this work suggest that the materials could, by using the TL technique, be a suitable candidate for alternative dose measurements in radiation processing, provided that a judicious choice of the post-irradiation heat temperature is made to minimize fading.     

Cooperative formation of dust structures in plasma

The formation and destruction of ordered dust structures in glow discharges are investigated experimentally. The initial construction phase of an ordered structure is related to the construction of its cooperative field and is determined by the number of particles and by the existence of crystallization centers. After the structure has been constructed, it influences the local plasma properties and the discharge current-voltage characteristics. The recovery of the structure after weak exposure takes place at local equilibrium, while, after intense exposure to high-voltage nanosecond pulses, it is determined by the fluctuation level and the degree of chaotization in the system.