Mass spectrometric diagnosis of the surface nitriding mechanism in a d.c. glow discharge

Reactive constituents have been investigated in a molecular beam generated in the cathode surface glow area and surface boundary layer. Mixtures of nitrogen and hydrogen form NH_x(x=0–4) compounds, which are of relevance in heterogeneous, plasma vs. metal nitriding reactions. Ammonia decomposition leads to NH_x(x=2–4). Strong cataphoretic enrichment of hydrogen has been observed in the cathode glow area. Heterogeneous reactions of NH_x with iron lead to the formation of iron nitrides via intermediates such as FeNH_2–3. In a pulsed d.c. glow discharge, increased sputtering and decreased hydrogen enrichment have been observed.     

Surface analysis of nitride layers formed on Fe‐based alloys through plasma nitride process

Nitriding phenomena that occur on the surfaces of pure Fe and Fe? Cr alloy (16 wt% Cr) samples were investigated. An Ar + N₂ mixture‐gas glow‐discharge plasma was used so that surface nitriding could occur on a clean surface etched by Ar⁺ ion sputtering. In addition, the metal substrates were kept at a low temperature to suppress the diffusion of nitrogen. These plasma‐nitriding conditions enabled us to characterize the surface reaction between nitrogen radicals and the metal substrates. The emission characteristics of the band heads of the nitrogen molecule ion (N₂⁺) and nitrogen molecule from the glow‐discharge plasma suggest that the active nitrogen molecule is probably the major nitriding reactant. AES and angle‐resolved XPS were used to characterize the thickness of the nitride layer and the concentration of elements and chemical species in the nitride layer. The thickness of the nitride layer did not depend on the metal substrate type. An oxide layer with a thickness of a few nanometers was formed on the top of the nitride layer during the nitriding process. The oxide layer consisted of several species of N_x‐Fe_y‐O, NO⁺, and NO₂^?. In the Fe? Cr alloy sample, these oxide species could be reduced because chromium is preferentially nitrided. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Penetration of plasma surface modification. I. Cf4 and C2F4 glow discharge plasmas

Plasma treatment of a polymeric surface could involve at least three major mechanisms: (1) direct interaction of reactive species in the low-temperature plasma state with the surface (line of sight irradiation effect), and (2) chemical reactions of plasma-induced reactive species with the surface, and (3) reactions among reactive species and the surface (plasma polymerization). The first and the third effects are considered to be limited to the surfaces which directly contact with plasma (glow). The second effect is not limited to the surfaces that contact with plasma state but can penetrate beyond the plasma zone by diffusion. Using an assembly of fibers, of which only the top layer contacts with plasma (glow), the penetration of chemical changes caused by plasma exposure was investigated. Results indicate that the fluorination effect (incorporation of fluorine-containing moieties on the surface of polymeric substrate) penetrates through a considerable thickness of the assembly of fibers, depending on the porosity (gas permeability) of the system. Chemical reactions of plasma-induced (chemically) reactive but nonpolymerizing species with the substrate fibers seems to predominate. The direct interactions of energetic species, such as ions, electrons, and electronically excited species, with polymeric surfaces seems to play relatively minor roles in the plasma treatment investigated. The major role of plasma, in this case, seems to be creating such chemically reactive species. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigation of glow discharge plasma for surface modification of polypropylene

Material surface properties of polymers, plastics, ceramics and textiles can be modified by atmospheric or low‐pressure glow discharge plasma. The aim of the present work is to study the surface modification of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film in order to improve its hydrophilic and wetting properties. In this article we used low‐pressure, low‐temperature oxygen plasma for the surface treatment of BOPP. Scanning electron microscopy indicates that plasma treatment causes mainly physical changes by creating microcraters and roughness on the surface and increasing surface friction. Attenuated total reflectance infrared spectra show oxygen‐containing groups such as ? OH at 3513 cm^?1 and C?O at 1695 cm^?1. Microscopic investigations of water droplets on BOPP (treated, untreated) show that the interfacial adhesion of treated surfaces is increased. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

射频等离子体对合成低碳醇用CuCoAl催化剂的改性作用

采用共浸渍法制备了CuCo/γ-Al₂O₃催化剂,应用射频等离子体技术对催化剂进行改性处理。以CO加氢合成低碳醇为模型反应对催化剂进行活性评价,通过X射线物相分析(XRD)、氢氧滴定(HOT)、CO程序升温脱附(CO-TPD)和程序升温还原(TPR)等技术对催化剂进行表征,研究了射频等离子体技术强化处理对催化剂结构、吸附性能和还原性能的影响。结果表明,等离子体技术改性处理提高了催化剂活性组分的分散度,细化了铜物种的晶粒尺寸,增加反应活性位并调变了活性位对吸附物种的吸附强度,改进了催化剂的还原性能,等离子体改性处理的催化剂比未处理的样品CO加氢反应活性和低碳醇的时空产率显著提高。     

Analysis of microscopic modifications and macroscopic surface properties of polystyrene thin films treated under d.c. pulsed discharge conditions

Using a d.c. pulsed plasma for the polymer surface treatment allows the attainment of macroscopic modifications of the surface, such as an important increase in wettability. At the same time microscopic variations of the surface structure are mainly linked to low‐depth chemical modifications, even if very weak roughness changes appear. This technique thus presents two major interests: the low power consumption compared with other techniques such as radiofrequency or microwave plasmas makes it economical; and very significant treatment (macroscopic) is realized under soft conditions without degradation of the polymer. The results of macroscopic and microscopic studies on polystyrene surfaces may allow a macroscopic interpretation to be made of the interaction between the polymer and the d.c. pulsed plasma. Treatment is divided into two temporal stages: cleaning and functionalization. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative studies on excitation of nickel ionic lines between argon and krypton glow discharge plasmas

The emission characteristics of nickel ionic lines in a glow discharge plasma are investigated when argon or krypton was employed as the plasma gas. Large difference in the relative intensities of nickel ionic lines which are assigned to the 3d⁸4p–3d⁸4s transition is observed between the krypton plasma and the argon plasma. Different intense Ni II lines appear in the krypton spectrum and in the argon spectrum, such as the Ni II 231.601 nm for Kr and the Ni II 230.009 nm for Ar. The excitation energy of these Ni II emission lines can give a key in considering their excitation mechanisms. The explanation for these experimental results is that charge-transfer collisions between nickel atom and the plasma gas ion play a major role in exciting the 3d⁸4p excited levels of nickel ion. The conditions for energy resonance in the charge-transfer collision determine particular energy levels having much larger population; for example, the 3d⁸4p ⁴D_7/2 level (6.39 eV) for Kr and the 3d⁸4p ⁴P_5/2 level (8.25 eV) for Ar.     

The effect of glow discharge sputtering on the analysis of metal oxide films

The potential of radiofrequency glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (rf-GD-OES) for the quantification and the solid-state speciation of metal oxide films has been investigated in this work. Two types of oxide coatings, an iron oxide film deposited on silicon and a chromate conversion coating (CCC), were studied at 700 Pa of pressure and 30 W of forward power. The metal to oxygen ratios in the quantitative depth profiles (Fe/O and Cr/O, respectively) were used to evaluate the oxidation states of iron and chromium in the oxide films, demonstrating the capability of GD-OES technique for depth-resolved solid-state speciation. Furthermore, the effect of glow discharge sputtering on the samples surface in terms of modifications in the surface morphology and species transformations, were investigated by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The iron and chromium oxidation states were carefully studied by XPS at the original samples surface and at the bottom of GD craters, and a systematic reduction of metal elements was observed after rf-GD-OES analysis. In the case of thin oxide films, preferential sputtering can be considered as a critical factor since oxygen atoms can be preferentially sputtered, leaving a metal-enriched surface and, therefore, promoting the reduction of metal elements. In the present study preferential sputtering was found to be sample dependent, changing the proportion of the metal reduction in the oxide film with its composition. Additionally, alternative sputter-depth-profiling techniques such as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), femtosecond laser ablation (fs-LA), and XPS ion gun were used for the analysis of the CCC in order to evaluate the reduction of Cr⁶⁺ to Cr³⁺ depending on the sputtering mechanism.     

Experimental study of a d.c. oxygen glow discharge by V.U.V. absorption spectroscopy

Vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy has been used to measure the concentration of oxygen molecules O₂(³), metastable singlet O₂(¹) molecules, atoms, and ozone in a d.c. glow discharge. The axial electric field, the electronic density, and the gas temperature are also determined. This set of measurements is presented for the positive column of a glow discharge created in a 1.6-cm-diameter Pyrex tube, for a pressure between 0.2 and 5 Torr and a d.c. current up to 80 mA.     

In situ preparation of ultrafine Ru nanocatalyst supported on nitrogen-doped layered double hydroxide by nitrogen glow discharge plasma for catalytic hydrogenation of N-ethylcarbazole

Ultrafine Ru nanoparticles (RuNPs) supported on nitrogen-doped layered double hydroxide (Ru/LDH) were in situ prepared by nitrogen glow discharge plasma (nGDP) without adding any chemical reducing agents or stabilizers. The as-synthesized Ru/LDH catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. During treatment with nGDP, the reduction of Ru³⁺ and nitrogen doping were carried out simultaneously. The resulting RuNPs has a narrow particle size distribution of 1.41–2.61 nm, an ultrafine average particle size of 1.86 nm, and were uniformly dispersed on nitrogen-doped LDH. The complexation of RuNPs and O/N-containing functional groups on LDH improve the catalytic activity and stability of Ru/LDH. The catalyst exhibited excellent properties for the hydrogenation reaction of N-ethylcarbazole (NEC). The conversion of NEC and the selectivity of 12H-NEC were 100% and 99.06% for 1 hr at 120°C and 6 MPa H₂, respectively. The mass hydrogen storage capacity was 5.78 wt%. The apparent activation energy was 35.78 kJ/mol.     

Comparison in the analytical performance between krypton and argon glow discharge plasmas as the excitation source for atomic emission spectrometry

The emission characteristics of ionic lines of nickel, cobalt, and vanadium were investigated when argon or krypton was employed as the plasma gas in glow discharge optical emission spectrometry. A dc Grimm-style lamp was employed as the excitation source. Detection limits of the ionic lines in each iron-matrix alloy sample were compared between the krypton and the argon plasmas. Particular intense ionic lines were observed in the emission spectra as a function of the discharge gas (krypton or argon), such as the Co II 258.033 nm for krypton and the Co II 231.707 nm for argon. The explanation for this is that collisions with the plasma gases dominantly populate particular excited levels of cobalt ion, which can receive the internal energy from each gas ion selectively, for example, the 3d⁷4p ³G₅ (6.0201 eV) for krypton and the 3d⁷4p ³G₄ (8.0779 eV) for argon. In the determination of nickel as well as cobalt in iron-matrix samples, more sensitive ionic lines could be found in the krypton plasma rather than the argon plasma. Detection limits in the krypton plasma were 0.0039 mass% Ni for the Ni II 230.299-nm line and 0.002 mass% Co for the Co II 258.033-nm line. However, in the determination of vanadium, the argon plasma had better analytical performance, giving a detection limit of 0.0023 mass% V for the V II 309.310-nm line.     

Ultrasensitive determination of mercury by solution anode glow discharge atomic emission spectrometry coupled with hydride generation

An innovative method for the ultrasensitive detection of mercury by solution anode glow discharge atomic emission spectroscopy (SAGD-AES) coupled with hydride generation (HG) was first investigated. In this method, the mercury vapor generated by the HG was transmitted to the SAGD through the miniature hollow tungsten tube for excitation and detected by a miniaturized spectrograph. A thorough parametric evaluation of the HG and SAGD system was performed, including the type and concentration of carrier acid, He flow rate, concentrations of NaBH₄, discharge current and discharge gap. Under optimal operating conditions, the detection limit for Hg²⁺ achieved 0.03 μg/L, with a relative standard deviation of 1.1% at the Hg²⁺ concentration of 5 μg/L. Moreover, the correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was 0.9996 in the range between 0.1 and 10 μg/L. The accuracy and practicability of HG-SAGD-AES were verified by measuring GBW09101b (human hair), GBW10029 (fish), soil and rice samples. The results showed good agreement with the certified values and values from direct mercury analyzer (DMA).     

Glow characterization in direct current plasma polymerization of trimethylsilane

Plasma polymerization of trimethylsilane (TMS) was carried out in a direct current (dc) glow discharge and was investigated by optical photography and plasma diagnostic techniques including optical emission spectroscopy and residual gas analysis. The nature of the glow formed in TMS discharge, which deposited plasma polymers, was significantly different from that of a simple gas such as Ar. In an Ar discharge, the dominant glow was the well known negative glow, which developed at a distinctive distance from the cathode, whereas the cathode surface remained in the dark space. In strong contrast to this situation, in TMS dc discharge the dominant or primary glow was the cathode glow, which appeared at the cathode surface. At a similar location where the Ar negative glow appeared, a very feeble glow as a secondary glow was also observed in TMS glow discharge. The deposition results and plasma diagnosis data evidently indicated that in TMS glow discharge, the cathode glow resulted from the low‐energy electron‐impact dissociation of TMS molecules that creates polymerizable species, but the negative glow was related to nonpolymerizable species such as hydrogen atoms and molecules. In this article, the cathode glow formed in glow discharges of organic compounds was designated as the dissociation glow according to its underlying plasma reactions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1042–1052, 2004     

辉光放电光谱法在深度分析上的应用现状

本文简单地介绍了辉光放电光谱法（GD-OES）的基本原理。分别对深度分析的定量方式、放电方式、应用领域和相关标准进行了详细地阐述。重点描述了商品化仪器中使用的SIMR深度分析定量方法。分别对三种放电方式（如直流、射频和脉冲）在深度分析中的特点进行了介绍。综述了GD-OES在金属镀层、复杂涂镀层、纳米级薄膜和样品制备领域的具体应用。最后,介绍了GD-OES在深度分析方面的标准     

The design and characteristics of direct current glow discharge atomic emission source operated with plain and hollow cathodes

A compact direct current glow discharge atomic emission source has been designed and constructed for analytical applications. This atomic emission source works very efficiently at a low-input electrical power. The design has some features that make it distinct from that of the conventional Grimm glow discharge source. The peculiar cathode design offered greater flexibility on size and shape of the sample. As a result the source can be easily adopted to operate in Plain or Hollow Cathode configuration. I-V and spectroscopic characteristics of the source were compared while operating it with plain and hollow copper cathodes. It was observed that with hollow cathode, the source can be operated at a less input power and generates greater Cu I and Cu II line intensities. Also, the intensity of Cu II line rise faster than Cu I line with argon pressure for both cathodes. But the influence of pressure on Cu II lines was more significant when the source is operated with hollow cathode.     

GDOES,XPS, and SEM with EDS analysis of porous coatings obtained on titanium after plasma electrolytic oxidation

In the paper, the glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy results of a commercial purity titanium grade 2 after plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), also known as micro arc oxidation (MAO), are presented. The PEO treatment was performed in the electrolyte containing concentrated (85%) phosphoric acid with copper nitrate at the voltage of 450 ± 10 V for 1 min. For the electrolyte, copper nitrate addition from 300 to 600 g/l was used. Porous coatings of specific properties were obtained. The measurements results allow to state that the copper and nitrogen ions can be introduced into the surface layer formed on pure titanium by the plasma electrolytic oxidation. The distributions of these elements were detected to depend on the electrolyte composition, with the highest amounts revealed in the coating created in the electrolyte containing 600 g Cu(NO₃)₂ in 1 l H₃PO₄. Three sub‐layers of the coating, displayed in this work by two models, were developed in the study. The analysis performed shows that under the PEO treatment in each of the electrolytes used, the formation of coating with the top sub‐layers always enriched in copper compounds was found. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

等离子体技术对CO2甲烷化用Ni/SiO2催化剂的改性作用

采用浸渍法制备了Ni/SiO₂催化剂,应用等离子体技术对催化剂进行改性处理。以CO₂甲烷化为模型反应对催化剂进行活性评价,通过H₂程序升温还原(H₂-TPR)和CO₂程序升温脱附(CO₂-TPD)技术对催化剂进行表征。研究了等离子体技术强化处理对催化剂吸附性能和还原性能的影响。结果表明,与常规焙烧的催化剂相比,等离子体技术改性处理提高了催化剂活性组分的分散度,增加反应活性位并调变了活性位对吸附物种的吸附强度,改进了催化剂的还原性能,CO₂甲烷化反应活性和甲烷的时空产率显著提高。     

Application of a rotating high-pressure glow discharge for the dissociation of hydrogen sulfide

The dissociation of hydrogen sulfide has been studied in an atmospheric-pressure glow discharge rotating between concentric electrodes in an axial magnetic field. Though the electrodes were heated to remove the sulfur formed in the discharge, stable operation was possible. The characteristics of the discharge and the influence of experimental parameters on the conversion of hydrogen sulfide and the energy efficiency are reported.     

Lithium-fusion sample preparation method for radio frequency glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (rf-GD-OES): analysis of coal ash specimens

The use of lithium-fusion sample preparation methods for the analysis of powder-form specimens by radio frequency glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (rf-GD-OES) has been evaluated for the test case of coal ash samples. The development of an elemental analysis technique for chemically complex coal ashes presents a challenge in terms of having simple sample preparation, providing accurate results, and minimizing analysis time. The adopted sample preparation procedure for the coal specimens involved a standard lithium fusion methodology. This procedure circumvents many problems associated with the common compaction methods employed for GD analysis of inorganic powders. It was found that coal ashes prepared as glass disks using a mixture of lithium compounds as the host matrix and analyzed by rf-GD-OES provide good plasma stabilization, with analyte optical emission signals stabilizing in ∼1 min and exhibiting ∼2% RSD variations for sputtering times of up to 10 min thereafter. The evaluation of discharge operating parameters and the assessment of approaches to quantitative analysis were also investigated. Discharge parameters of an rf power of 30 W and an Ar discharge gas pressure of 4 Torr yielded rapid signal stabilization and optimized S/B ratios. Sample-to-sample precision of better than 7% RSD was achieved for repetitive samplings (in the same sample locations) for species present at the parts-per-million level in the sample. Limits of quantification could not be adequately evaluated as the levels of the target analytes in the fusion components (i.e. lithium compounds) were above the method detection limit. It is believed that the general methodology holds promise for rf-GD analysis of a range of inorganic solids in powder form.     

Precise determination of manganese in steel by dc glow discharge optical emission spectrometry associated with voltage modulation technique

A voltage modulation technique was applied for the precise and accurate determination of manganese in steels in dc glow discharge optical emission spectrometry. Emission signals from the glow discharge plasma are modulated by a cyclic variation of the discharge voltage so that only the desired signals can be detected at very low noise levels by using a lock-in amplifier. Mn determination in low-alloyed steels was performed to estimate the repeatability of the analytical result. For each measurement, the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of the intensities of the Mn I 403.08-nm line was ca 0.1% when a steel sample containing 0.329 mass% Mn was employed. Averaging all analytical values, which are obtained in various discharge conditions, yields statistical information on the precision and accuracy of the analytical values obtained. The relative error from the recommended value is calculated to be 0.5%. The R.S.D. over the analytical values is 1.5%, representing the overall analytical performance of this technique.