Experimental and theoretical studies of nuclear generation of ozone from oxygen and oxygen--sulfur hexafluoride mixtures

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.337364· OSTI ID:5532226

Elsayed-Ali, H E; Miley, G H

A series of experimental measurements of the yield of O/sub 3/ in nuclear-induced O/sub 2/ and O/sub 2/-SF/sub 6/ discharges are reported. The discharges were created by bombardment with energetic particles from the /sup 10/B(n-italic,..cap alpha..)/sup 7/Li reaction. Continuous irradiation at dose rates of 10/sup 15/--10/sup 17/ eV cm/sup -3/ s/sup -1/ and pulsed irradiation (--10 ms FWHM) at a peak dose rate of --10/sup 20/ eV cm/sup -3/ s/sup -1/ were conducted. At the lower dose rates, the addition of SF/sub 6/ generally increased the ozone yield due to the slowing of ozone destruction by negative oxygen and ozone ions. In contrast, at the high dose rates, the ozone concentration decreased due to SF/sub 6/ suppression of atomic oxygen formation by ion--ion recombination. A numerical model was developed and tested against experimental conditions. This model indicates that the steady-state ozone concentration was limited by the reaction O/sup -//sub 3/+O/sub 3/..-->..2O/sub 2/+O/sup -//sub 2/ with a rate coefficient of --1 x 10/sup -12/ cm/sup 3/ s/sup -1/. In addition to dose rate effects, pressure and temperature effects on ozone production are discussed and methods for increasing the ozone yield are suggested.

• Research Organization: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Nuclear Engineering Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
• OSTI ID: 5532226
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 60:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
OXYGEN
ION-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
OZONE
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
ALPHA PARTICLES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
MOLECULAR IONS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
SYNTHESIS
BARYON REACTIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
HADRON REACTIONS
ION COLLISIONS
IONS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
YIELDS
400600* - Radiation Chemistry