Enhancing nitrogen fixation efficiency in glow-like discharge by reducing cathode-fall voltage

Li, Yiheng; Luo, Yi; Man, Chenxi; Pei, Xuekai; Lu, Xinpei; B Graves, David

doi:10.1088/1361-6595/ad8307

Title: Enhancing nitrogen fixation efficiency in glow-like discharge by reducing cathode-fall voltage

Journal Article · 14 October 2024 · Plasma Sources Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/ad8307 · OSTI ID:2478142

^[1]; Luo, Yi ^[1]; Man, Chenxi ^[1];

^[1];

^[2];

^[3]

Wuhan Univ. (China)
Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan (China)
Princeton Univ., NJ (United States); Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

In plasma nitrogen fixation devices, discharge electrodes are crucial yet susceptible to oxidation and corrosion due to plasma’s high temperatures and oxygen content, which could alter discharge modes. This research evaluates the impact of different electrode materials, including iron, chromium, nickel, copper, and 304 stainless steel, on nitrogen fixation efficiency in glow-like discharges driven by high-voltage DC power. Notably, iron and 304 stainless steel cathodes undergo a mode transition at increased currents, evident from plasma color shifts and significant voltage reductions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses reveal that such mode changes minimally affect nitrogen oxide production rates, leading to a notable decrease in energy consumption for nitrogen fixation by up to 40%. OES and SEM-EDS measurements suggest that iron oxide, with its higher secondary electron emission, replaces metal as the cathode material, facilitating mode transitions and maintaining discharge current at lower voltages. Further, this voltage change is largely attributed to the cathode voltage drop, highlighting the minimal role of the cathode fall region in NO_x synthesis. These findings underscore the potential for improving plasma nitrogen fixation energy efficiency by choosing suitable cathode materials to lower the cathode-fall voltage.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Key Research and Development Program of China; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); USDOE

OSTI ID:: 2478142

Journal Information:: Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Journal Name: Plasma Sources Science and Technology Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 33; ISSN 0963-0252

Publisher:: IOP PublishingCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (53)

Chemical reactions during rapid quenching of oxygen‐nitrogen mixtures from very high temperatures Ammann, P. R.; Timmins, R. S. AIChE Journal, Vol. 12, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690120522	journal	September 1966
Nitrogen Fixation by Gliding Arc Plasma: Better Insight by Chemical Kinetics Modelling Wang, Weizong; Patil, Bhaskar; Heijkers, Stjin ChemSusChem, Vol. 10, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201700095	journal	April 2017
Direct Oxidative Nitrogen Fixation from Air and H₂O by a Water Falling Film Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor at Ambient Pressure and Temperature Liu, Zhuo; Tian, Yonghui; Niu, Guanghui ChemSusChem, Vol. 14, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202002794	journal	January 2021
Nitrogen fixation as NO_x using air plasma coupled with heterogeneous catalysis at atmospheric pressure Pei, Xuekai; Li, Yiheng; Luo, Yi Plasma Processes and Polymers, Vol. 21, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.202300135	journal	November 2023
Quenching of air plasma effluents Tsui, Y. Pang; Cheh, H. Y. Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, Vol. 2, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00567564	journal	December 1982
Thermal quenching effects on plasma synthesis of NO and plasma decomposition of CO2 Sekiguchi, Hidetoshi; Kanzawa, Atsushi; Honda, Takuya Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, Vol. 9, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054285	journal	June 1989
Plasma Chemical Reactor with Exploding Water Jet Shmelev, Vladimir M.; Saveliev, Alexei V.; Kennedy, Lawrence A. Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, Vol. 29, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-009-9177-z	journal	May 2009
Nitrogen Fixation as NOx Enabled by a Three-Level Coupled Rotating Electrodes Air Plasma at Atmospheric Pressure Lei, XinYu; Cheng, He; Nie, LanLan Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, Vol. 42, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-021-10222-2	journal	January 2022
Low temperature plasma-catalytic NO x synthesis in a packed DBD reactor: Effect of support materials and supported active metal oxides Patil, B. S.; Cherkasov, N.; Lang, J. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Vol. 194 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.04.055	journal	October 2016
Surface chemistry and fundamental limitations on the plasma cleaning of metals Dong, Bin; Driver, M. Sky; Emesh, Ismail Applied Surface Science, Vol. 384 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.05.082	journal	October 2016
Plasma N2-fixation: 1900–2014 Patil, B. S.; Wang, Q.; Hessel, V. Catalysis Today, Vol. 256 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2015.05.005	journal	November 2015
An improved corona discharge ignited by oxide cathodes with high secondary electron emission for toluene degradation Yao, Xiaomei; Jiang, Nan; Li, Jie Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 362 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2018.12.151	journal	April 2019
Reducing energy cost of NO production in air plasmas Pei, Xuekai; Gidon, Dogan; Yang, Yao-Jhen Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 362 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.01.011	journal	April 2019
Competitive formation of NO, NO2, and O3 in an air-flowing plasma reactor: A central role of the flow rate Kim, Jinwoo; Lee, Hyungyu; Huh, Seong-Cheol Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 468 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.143636	journal	July 2023
A review of the existing and alternative methods for greener nitrogen fixation Cherkasov, N.; Ibhadon, A. O.; Fitzpatrick, P. Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, Vol. 90 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2015.02.004	journal	April 2015
High temperature oxidation behavior of type 444 stainless steel in synthetic automotive exhaust gas Zhan, Jianming; Yang, Yong; Bi, Hongyun Journal of Materials Research and Technology, Vol. 12 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.03.014	journal	May 2021
Nitrogen fixation in an electrode-free microwave plasma Kelly, Seán; Bogaerts, Annemie Joule, Vol. 5, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2021.09.009	journal	November 2021
Assessment of atmospheric plasma treatment cleaning effect on steel surfaces Rodríguez-Villanueva, C.; Encinas, N.; Abenojar, J. Surface and Coatings Technology, Vol. 236 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2013.10.036	journal	December 2013
Nitrogen Fixation by an Arc Plasma at Elevated Pressure to Increase the Energy Efficiency and Production Rate of NO_x Tsonev, Ivan; O’Modhrain, Colin; Bogaerts, Annemie ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 11, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c06357	journal	January 2023
Toward Reducing the Energy Cost of NO_x Formation in a Spark Discharge Reactor through Pinpointing Its Mechanism Abdelaziz, Ayman A.; Teramoto, Yoshiyuki; Nozaki, Tomohiro ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 11, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c06535	journal	February 2023
Gliding Arc Reactor under AC Pulsed Mode Operation: Spatial Performance Profile for NO_x Synthesis Li, Sirui; van Raak, Thijs; Kriek, Rutger ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 11, Issue 34 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c03832	journal	August 2023
Detonator of the population explosion Smil, Vaclav Nature, Vol. 400, Issue 6743 https://doi.org/10.1038/22672	journal	July 1999
NO_x production in a rotating gliding arc plasma: potential avenue for sustainable nitrogen fixation Jardali, Fatme; Van Alphen, Senne; Creel, James Green Chemistry, Vol. 23, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1039/D0GC03521A	journal	January 2021
Importance of geometric effects in scaling up energy-efficient plasma-based nitrogen fixation Tsonev, Ivan; Ahmadi Eshtehardi, Hamid; Delplancke, Marie-Paule Sustainable Energy & Fuels, Vol. 8, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE01615C	journal	January 2024
Trichel Streamers and Their Transition into the Pulseless Glow Discharge Giao, Trinh N.; Jordan, J. B. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 41, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1658400	journal	September 1970
Origin of secondary‐electron‐emission yield‐curve parameters Dionne, Gerald F. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 46, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.322061	journal	August 1975
Effects of high-intensity electron bombardment on the secondary-emission characteristics of a MgO/Au-cermet film Dionne, Gerald F.; Fitzgerald, James F. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 48, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.324068	journal	July 1977
Field to thermo-field to thermionic electron emission: A practical guide to evaluation and electron emission from arc cathodes Benilov, M. S.; Benilova, L. G. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 114, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4818325	journal	August 2013
Unified simulation of different modes in atmospheric pressure DC discharges in nitrogen Saifutdinov, A. I. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 129, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0033372	journal	March 2021
Investigation of nitrogen fixation in low-pressure microwave plasma via rotational–vibrational NO and N2 kinetics Samadi Bahnamiri, Omid; Manaigo, Filippo; Chatterjee, Abhyuday Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 133, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0138298	journal	March 2023
Magnetic field stabilized atmospheric pressure plasma nitrogen fixation: Effect of electric field and gas temperature Li, Zhiyu; Wu, Erqi; Nie, Lanlan Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 30, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0155713	journal	August 2023
A new multiplet table for Fe I Nave, G.; Johansson, S.; Learner, R. C. M. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, Vol. 94 https://doi.org/10.1086/192079	journal	August 1994
Excitation of ) and ) states in a pulsed positive corona discharge in , - and -NO mixtures Simek, M.; Babický, V.; Clupek, M. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 31, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/31/19/032	journal	October 1998
The high-pressure glow discharge in air Gambling, W. A.; Edels, H. British Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 5, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1088/0508-3443/5/1/309	journal	January 1954
Optical diagnostics of atmospheric pressure air plasmas Laux, C. O.; Spence, T. G.; Kruger, C. H. Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 12, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1088/0963-0252/12/2/301	journal	February 2003
Kinetics of excited states and radicals in a nanosecond pulse discharge and afterglow in nitrogen and air Shkurenkov, Ivan; Burnette, David; Lempert, Walter R. Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 23, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1088/0963-0252/23/6/065003	journal	August 2014
Cold-cathode discharges and breakdown in argon: surface and gas phase production of secondary electrons Phelps, A. V.; Petrovic, Z. Lj Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 8, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1088/0963-0252/8/3/201	journal	January 1999
Full spatial-field visualization of gas temperature in an air micro-glow discharge by calibrated Schlieren photography Xiong, Qing; Xu, Le; Wang, Xia Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 51, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/aaa882	journal	February 2018
Specific energy cost for nitrogen fixation as NO _x using DC glow discharge in air Pei, Xuekai; Gidon, Dogan; Graves, David B. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 53, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab5095	journal	November 2019
Temperature-dependent behavior of nitrogen fixation in nanopulsed dielectric barrier discharge operated at different humidity levels and oxygen contents Abdelaziz, Ayman A.; Kim, Hyun-Ha Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 53, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab5c78	journal	January 2020
Numerical investigation of AC arc ignition on cold electrodes in atmospheric-pressure argon Santos, D. F. N.; Lisnyak, M.; Almeida, N. A. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 54, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/abdf97	journal	February 2021
Propeller arc: design and basic characteristics Pei, Xuekai; Gidon, Dogan; Graves, David B. Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 27, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/aaf7ef	journal	December 2018
Numerical study of various scenarios for the formation of atmospheric pressure DC discharge characteristics in argon: from glow to arc discharge Saifutdinov, A. I. Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 31, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/ac89a7	journal	September 2022
Simulation of glow and arc discharges in nitrogen: effects of the cathode emission mechanisms Tsonev, I.; Boothroyd, J.; Kolev, St Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 32, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/acc96c	journal	May 2023
The global nitrogen cycle in the twenty-first century: introduction Fowler, David; Pyle, John A.; Raven, John A. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Vol. 368, Issue 1621 https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0165	journal	July 2013
The Mechanism of Field Dependent Secondary Emission Jacobs, Harold; Freely, John; Brand, Frank A. Physical Review, Vol. 88, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.88.492	journal	November 1952
Secondary Electron Emission of Crystalline MgO Johnson, J. B.; McKay, K. G. Physical Review, Vol. 91, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.91.582	journal	August 1953
Low-Current Plasmatron as a Source of Nitrogen Oxide Molecules Korolev, Yury D.; Frants, Oleg B.; Landl, Nikolay V. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 40, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2012.2201755	journal	November 2012
Interaction Between Arc Spot Plasma and Steel Surface in Descaling Tang, Zhongliang; Wu, Ruimin; Yang, Saidan IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 43, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2015.2415526	journal	May 2015
Transformation of the Nitrogen Cycle: Recent Trends, Questions, and Potential Solutions Galloway, J. N.; Townsend, A. R.; Erisman, J. W. Science, Vol. 320, Issue 5878 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1136674	journal	May 2008
Modeling of the Influence of Thermal-Field Electron Emission from the Cathode with a Thin Insulating Film on its Heating in Glow Discharge Bondarenko, G. G.; Kristya, V. I.; Ha, Myo Thi Journal of Surface Investigation: X-ray, Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques, Vol. 16, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1134/S102745102204022X	journal	August 2022
Secondary Electron Emission Characteristics of Heavy-Metal Oxide Coatings for CRT Shadow Mask Koitabashi, Masayasu; Yamamoto, Morio; Kimura, Hiroshi Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 27, Issue 7R https://doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.27.1210	journal	July 1988
DC Glow Discharges in Atmospheric Pressure Air Machala, Zdenko; Marode, Emmanuel; Laux, Christophe O. Journal of Advanced Oxidation Technologies, Vol. 7, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1515/jaots-2004-0206	journal	January 2004

Similar Records

Micro hollow cathode discharges

Conference · 1995 · OSTI ID:163170

Schoenbach, K H; Peterkin, F E; Verhappen, R

Electron emission from glow-discharge cathode materials due to neon and argon ion bombardment

Journal Article · 1989 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6449580

Szapiro, B; Rocca, J J

AC Glow Discharge Plasma in N2O

Journal Article · 2006 · AIP Conference Proceedings · OSTI ID:20898803

Yousif, F B; Martinez, H; Robledo-Martinez, A; +1 more

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DC glow
energy cost
nitrogen fixation
oxide cathode
secondary electron emission

Title: Enhancing nitrogen fixation efficiency in glow-like discharge by reducing cathode-fall voltage

Citation Formats

References (53)

Similar Records

Related Subjects