Characteristics of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ozone Synthesis for Different Pulse Modes

This paper features the pulse polarity effect on ozone generation efficiency by adjusting the applied voltage and the flow rate in a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge reactor. Results show that utilization of unipolar pulse has better performance when compared with the bipolar mode, but on the other hand, utilization of the positive pulse has slightly higher efficiency than that of negative mode. Meanwhile, changing the gas flow rate shows a minor effect on ozone generation. Utilization of bipolar pulse would decrease the breakdown voltage and ozone generation efficiency when compared with unipolar pulse while it would lead to higher ozone concentrations at fixed applied voltage. The maximum ozone yield reaches 186.9 g/kWh at 6 kV positive pulse with ozone concentration of 11.9 g/Nm³.     

Influence of Power Modulation on Ozone Production Using an AC Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Oxygen

The measurements of electro-optical discharge characteristics and concentration of produced ozone were performed to evaluate the efficiency of ozone production in an AC surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) in pure oxygen at atmospheric pressure. The discharge was driven in an amplitude-modulated regime with a driving AC frequency of 1 kHz, variable discharge duty cycle of 0.01–0.8 and oxygen flow rate of 2.5–10 slm. We observed asymmetric SDBD behaviour as evidenced by the variation in the ratio of the O^I/O₂ ⁺ emission intensities registered during the positive/negative half-periods and complemented by the transferred charge measurements through the Lissajous figures. We also found a strong dependence of O₃ concentration on the discharge duty cycle. The highest calculated ozone production yield reached 170 g/kWh with a corresponding energy cost of about 10 eV/molecule when combining the lowest inspected duty cycle with the lowest AC high voltage amplitude.     

Experimental Study of Nitrogen Oxides and Ozone Generation by Corona-Like Dielectric Barrier Discharge with Airflow in a Magnetic Field

We investigated nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone generation for corona-like dielectric barrier discharge in a stationary magnetic field with airflow. The magnetic field was produced by the permanent magnet. We showed that nitrogen monoxide could be easily generated at relatively low voltages, by application of a magnetic field on the hollow needle to mesh with a dielectric barrier discharge. For higher voltages generation of nitrogen monoxide falls to zero, and generation of nitrogen dioxide and ozone with increasing voltage increases. We also demonstrated that simultaneous application of the magnetic field with airflow through the needle electrode affects the transition of the discharge from the high to the low voltage regime. This transition is accompanied by important changes in the production of nitrogen oxides and ozone. Changes in the discharge regime are reflected by changes in the voltage–current waveforms. The obtained results could be interesting for various biomedical applications or bacterial decontamination of surfaces.     

Fabrication and investigation of nanostructures on transition metal dichalcogenide surfaces using a scanning tunneling microscope

Nanometer-scale holes have been fabricated on the surfaces of the semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) by applying voltage pulses from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) operating in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). It was found that the tip geometry (tip shape and sharpness) influences the formation and structure of the atomic-scale nanostructures. Threshold voltage ranges for the surface modification of MoTe2 (3.0 +/- 0.3 V) and MoS2 (3.4 +/- 0.3 V) were determined. Negative sample voltage pulses applied to a p-type MoTe2 surface produced much larger and deeper nanometer-scale holes when compared with those produced by positive voltage pulses. The existence of threshold voltages and the pulse polarity dependence of nanostructure fabrication suggests that an electric field evaporation mechanism is applicable. Support for this mechanism was obtained by nanostructuring metallic TMDC NbSe2, where both the produced features and the threshold voltages (3.0 +/- 0.3 V) were similar for both positive and negative voltage pulses.     

Ozone Production Using a Power Modulated Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Dry Synthetic Air

The measurements of electrical and optical characteristics of the discharge and concentrations of produced ozone and nitrogen oxides were performed to evaluate the efficiency of ozone production in an AC surface dielectric barrier discharge in dry synthetic air at atmospheric pressure. The discharge was driven in an amplitude-modulated regime with driving AC frequencies of 1, 5 and 10?kHz, variable discharge duty cycle of 0.02?C0.8 and synthetic air flow rate of 2?C10?slm. The experimental results show that ozone and nitrogen oxides concentrations increased with increasing AC high-voltage amplitude, increasing discharge duty cycle and with increasing residence time. The highest calculated ozone production yield reached ~90?g/kWh with a corresponding energy cost of about 20?eV/molecule. The production yield was found to be independent of the driving AC frequency and specific energy density in the 10^?4?C10^?2?Wh/l range.     

Effect of ac electrodeposition conditions on the growth of high aspect ratio copper nanowires in porous aluminum oxide templates

The effect of several deposition parameters on the uniformity of copper electrodeposition through the alumina barrier layer into porous aluminum oxide templates grown in sulfuric or oxalic acid was systematically investigated. A fractional factorial design of experiment was conducted to find suitable deposition conditions among the variables: frequency, voltage, pulsed or continuous deposition, electrolyte concentration, and barrier layer thinning voltage. Continuous ac sine wave deposition conditions yielded excellent uniformity of pore-filling but damaged the porous aluminum oxide templates when deposition was continued to grow bulk copper on the surface. Pulsed electrodeposition yielded comparable uniformity of pore-filling and no damage to the porous aluminum oxide templates, even when bulk copper was deposited on them. Further optimization of pulsed deposition conditions was accomplished by comparing square and sine waveforms and pulse polarity. Pulsed square waveforms produced better pore-filling than pulsed sine waveforms. For sine wave depositions, the oxidative/reductive pulse polarity was more efficient than the commonly used reductive/oxidative pulse polarity. For square wave depositions into sulfuric acid grown pores, the reductive/oxidative pulse polarity produces more uniform pore-filling, likely as a result of enhanced resonant tunneling through the barrier layer and reoxidation of copper in faster filling pores.     

Ozone Production in the Negative DC Corona: The Dependence of Discharge Polarity

The rate of production and the spatial distribution of ozone in the negative DC corona discharge are predicted with a numerical model. The results are compared to prior experimental data and to results previously presented by the authors for the positive corona discharge. In agreement with experimental data, ozone production rate in the negative corona is an order of magnitude higher than in the positive corona. The model reveals that this significant difference is due to the effect of discharge polarity on the number of energetic electrons in the corona plasma. The number of electrons is one order of magnitude greater and the chemically reactive plasma region extends beyond the ionization region in the negative corona. The paper also extends our prior modeling effort to lower velocities where the Joule heating reduces ozone production. The magnitude of the reduction is characterized by a new dimensionless parameter referred to as the electric Damkohler's third number(Da_III–e).     

Characteristics of the Discharge and Ozone Generation in Oxygen-Fed Coaxial DBD Using an Amplitude-Modulated AC Power Supply

In this study, a traditional tubular reactor and an amplitude-modulated AC power supply were employed to develop a unique practical ozone generator with a widely adjustable ozone concentration and simultaneously a constant ozone yield. The characteristics regarding discharge and ozone generation in oxygen were experimentally investigated in detail. The amplitude-modulated AC waveform consisted of T_ON (burst of four consecutive AC cycles) and T_OFF with a duty cycle of 0.4. The experimental results show that a unique ozone generator can be developed through changing the applied voltage amplitude when an amplitude-modulated AC power supply producing periodic bursts of several consecutive AC cycles during the T_ON period is used. A quite high and stable ozone yield of 165?±?16 g/kWh was achieved and a wide range of ozone concentrations could be obtained. Moreover, we observed a very interesting phenomenon that the discharge energy and voltage peak for every AC cycle showed some difference, resulting from the accumulation and release of charge on the dielectric. The first AC cycle had the highest discharge energy and positive voltage peak as well as the lowest negative voltage peak, which was particularly obvious at a high energy density. Additionally, water cooling of the grounded electrode seemed to have a small influence on the basic electrical characteristics of the discharge and had a positive effect on the concentration and yield of ozone due to a reduction in gas temperature in the discharge gap.     

Nitric Oxide Conversion and Ozone Synthesis in a Shielded Sliding Discharge Reactor with Positive and Negative Streamers

Positive and negative streamer discharges in atmospheric pressure air were generated in a shielded sliding discharge reactor at operating voltages as low as 5 kV for a gap length of 1.6 cm. In this reactor, electrodes are placed on top of a dielectric layer and one of the electrodes, generally the one on ground potential, is connected to a conductive layer on the opposite side of the dielectric. The energy per pulse, at the same applied voltage, was more than a factor of seven higher than that of pulsed corona discharges, and more than a factor of two higher than that of sliding discharges without a shield. It is explained on the basis of enhanced electric fields, particularly at the plasma emitting electrode. Specific input energy required for 50 % removal from ~1,000 ppm initial NO could be reduced to ~18 eV/molecule when ozone in the exhaust of negative streamers was utilized. For sliding discharges and pulsed corona discharges this value was ~25 eV/molecule and it was 35 eV/molecule for positive shielded sliding discharges. Also, the ozone energy yield from dry air was up to ~130 g/kW h and highest for negative streamer discharges in shielded sliding discharge reactors. The high energy density in negative streamer discharges in the shielded discharge reactor at the relatively low applied voltages might not only allow expansion of basic studies on negative streamers, but also open the path to industrial applications, which have so far been focused on positive streamer discharges.     

Chemistry of the Positive and Negative Electrical Discharges Formed in Liquid Water and Above a Gas–Liquid Surface

The physical processes and chemical reactions that take place inside different temperature plasma zones in water are only partially understood. The present study uses the emission spectroscopy and hydrogen peroxide measurements as indicators of the processes that take place on the gas–liquid boundary and inside plasma. Based on the hydrogen peroxide measurements with negative and positive high-voltage polarities as a function of solution conductivity, it was concluded that the main difference between positive polarity plasma and negative polarity plasma lies in the active radical concentration inside plasma. Data suggested that in the positive polarity electrical discharge the hydrogen peroxide concentration depends on the solution pH, whereas in the negative polarity discharge, it depends on the solution conductivity. Also, only in the negative polarity discharge do some of the electrons that are emitted from the high voltage electrode diffuse into the bulk where they react with the solutes.     

Influence of Polarity and Rise Time of Pulse Voltage Waveforms on Diesel Particulate Matter Removal Using an Uneven Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor

The influence of polarity and rise time of the pulse voltage on the removal of particulate matter (PM) emitted from a diesel engine was investigated using a dielectric barrier discharge reactor. Four kinds of pulse voltage waveforms (positive, negative, positive–negative and negative–positive) were used. It was found that the energy efficiency for PM removal is just a function of energy injection and that there are no obvious influences on PM removal and energy efficiency within the voltage waveforms except the negative pulse voltage of a peak voltage below 8 kV. A comparison of PM removals using various kinds of pulse voltage waveforms and different types of plasma reactors is given.     

Influence of Duty Cycle on Ozone Generation and Discharge Using Volume Dielectric Barrier Discharge

The influence of duty cycle on ozone generation and discharge characteristics was investigated experimentally using volume dielectric barrier discharge in both synthetic air and pure oxygen at atmospheric pressure. The discharge was driven by an amplitude-modulated AC high voltage–power supply producing T_ON (a single AC cycle) and T_OFF periods with a widely variable duty cycle. The experimental results show that the energy delivered to the discharge during each AC cycle remains roughly constant and is independent of feed gas, duty cycle and T_OFF. Both average discharge power and ozone concentration show an initial linear increase with duty cycle, and deviate gradually from linearity owing to an increase in gas temperature at higher duty cycles. Nevertheless, ozone yield remains nearly constant (45.7 ± 3.5 g/kWh in synthetic air and 94.7 ± 3.1 g/kWh in pure oxygen) over a wide range of applied duty cycles (0.02–1). This property can be conveniently employed to develop a unique ozone generator with a widely adjustable ozone concentration and simultaneously a constant ozone yield. Additionally, the discharges in synthetic air and pure oxygen have similar electrical characteristics; however, there are observable differences in apparent luminosity, which is weak and white-toned for synthetic air discharge, and bright and blue-toned for pure oxygen discharge.     

Influence of the Outer Electrode Material on Ozone Generation in Corona Discharges

The effect of the outer electrode material on negative corona discharge current and the process of ozone formation have been studied in coaxial cylindrical system of electrodes fed by dry oxygen. Three materials (brass, duralumin, stainless steel) were tested in experiments. The probability coefficient of ozone decomposition was found be slightly higher compared with known data. The coefficient of probability of ozone decomposition is decreasing with the time of exposition of the metal surface to mixture of oxygen and ozone. The effect of the electrode material on the current voltage characteristic of the discharge was marginal. In contrast to this at average energy density η higher than 10 J/cm³ the ozone concentration is affected by material of the outer electrode. A strong influence of the temperature of metal electrode on the probability coefficient of ozone decomposition was illustrated from the decrease of the ozone production.     

The Influence of Corona Electrodes Thickness on the Efficiency of Plasmachemical Oxidation of Acetone

Current–voltage characteristics (CVC) and acetone vapors oxidation in atmospheric pressure corona discharge (CD) of negative and positive polarity were studied in double wires-to-plate geometry. Negative CD was more stable than positive one towards breakdown and allowed to reach higher current. CVC for negative CD can be well described by model for cylindrical geometry with correction in one coefficient only. The ignition voltage of negative CD obeys Peek’s law. The rate of acetone vapors oxidation increased with the increase of corona wire radius in the range of discharge power 15–60 W. The highest oxidation rate was obtained at power 60 W, negative polarity and wire radius 400 μm but the highest energetic efficiency (g/kWh) was obtained at maximum wire radius (400 μm) and minimum power level (15 W). The oxidation rate was directly proportional to the volume of discharge area which grows together with the increase of wire radius.     

Homogeneous Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor with Two L-Shaped Electrodes Operating at Atmospheric Pressure

Homogeneous non-thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure is highly effective for surface treatment of various polymeric substrates. We propose a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor consisting of two back-to-back L-shaped electrodes, driven by bipolar voltage pulses of opposite polarity. This structure and driving scheme allow the discharge to be initiated earlier inside the reactor than outside the reactor. The plasma formed inside the reactor is ejected through a slit and moves toward the substrate. As a result, an abundance of electrons is provided to the outside region of the reactor at its breakdown stage. These electrons play a role in suppressing the filamentary mode, and hence, homogeneous discharge in He and Ar can be achieved under an open air configuration. The discharge characteristics inside and outside the reactor are analyzed by using the discharge current and the temporal evolution of emission intensity, respectively. The importance of seed electrons available at the gas breakdown stage in achieving a homogeneous discharge is discussed together with the differences between the discharge characteristics of helium and argon gases.     

Effect of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on Various Regions of Active Electrode on Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Air

For surface dielectric barrier discharge in air, we examined the effect of titanium dioxide on various regions of the active electrode on the electrical parameters of discharge, on its emission spectra, and for demonstration of the obtained results also on the concentration of ozone produced by the discharge. We used the active electrode in the form of nine interconnected parallel strips and a square counter electrode. The TiO₂ layer covered either only the strips, the region between the strips, or all active electrode. As reference discharge we used the discharge without any layer of TiO₂. We found that direct application potential has a version when the strips of the active electrode are covered with a layer of TiO_2, because the concentration of ozone produced by the discharge is the highest in all investigated cases. This finding could therefore be used for construction of more efficient ozone generators.     

Analysis of cell gap-dependent driving voltage in a fringe field-driven homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal display

We have studied cell gap-dependent driving voltage characteristics in a homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal (LC) cell driven by a fringe electric field, termed the fringe field switching (FFS) mode. The results show that for the FFS mode using a LC with positive dielectric anisotropy, the operating voltage decreases as the cell gap decreases, whereas it increases with a decreasing cell gap when using a LC with negative dielectric anisotropy. The difference between LCs is explained by simulation and experiment.     

Analysis of cell gap-dependent driving voltage in a fringe field-driven homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal display

We have studied cell gap-dependent driving voltage characteristics in a homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal (LC) cell driven by a fringe electric field, termed the fringe field switching (FFS) mode. The results show that for the FFS mode using a LC with positive dielectric anisotropy, the operating voltage decreases as the cell gap decreases, whereas it increases with a decreasing cell gap when using a LC with negative dielectric anisotropy. The difference between LCs is explained by simulation and experiment.     

Scaling of Shielded Sliding Discharges for Environmental Applications

Shielded sliding discharges are nanosecond streamer discharges which develop along a dielectric between metal foil electrodes, with one of the foils extended over the entire rear of the dielectric layer. The electrode configuration not only allowed rearranging discharges in parallel due to the decoupling effect of the metal layer, but also to modify the electric field distribution in such a way that components normal to the surface are enhanced, leading to an increased energy density in the discharge plasma. By varying the electrode gap, the applied voltage, and the repetition rate, it is shown that by keeping the average electric field constant, the discharge voltage can be reduced from tens of kV to values on the order of a few kV, but only at the expense of a reduced energy density of the plasma. Varying the repetition rate from 20 to 500 Hz resulted in a slightly reduced energy per pulse, likely caused by residual charges on the dielectric surface. Measurements of the NO conversion to NO₂ and ozone synthesis in dry air showed that the conversion is only dependent on the energy density of the discharge plasma. Although reducing the pulse voltage from the tens of kV range to that of few kV, and possibly even lower, causes a reduction in energy density, this loss can be compensated for by increasing the electrode gap area. This and the possibility to form discharge arrays allows generating large volume discharge reactors for environmental applications, at modest pulsed voltages.