DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Measurement of atomic oxygen densities using TALIF on a dielectric barrier discharge: insights into the volume above a micro cavity plasma array

Journal Article · · Plasma Sources Science and Technology

Dielectric barrier discharges, particularly micro cavity plasma arrays, offer significant potential for plasma-catalytic research due to their ability to ignite plasma in direct contact with a catalytic surface, enabling the observation of plasma-surface interactions. A key factor in their application is the generation of reactive species, such as atomic oxygen, within the cavities. These species can interact with both the surface (e.g. for activation or cleaning) and the gas being treated (e.g. for oxidation). Given the central role of oxygen atoms in plasma catalysis and their use as a model for more complex species, this work investigates the transport of these atoms out of the cavities. Two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy with picosecond laser excitation is performed in the volume above the cavities. The results are compared with a basic diffusion model. The reactor operates with a He/O2 mixture at a flow rate of 1 slm and atmospheric pressure. Densities of up to 1016 cm-3 are measured near the surface. Time-dependent measurements show that, at a distance of 350 µm from the surface, a density equilibrium is reached within less than 3 ms of reactor operation. Decay times due to ozone formation after the reactor is turned off are on a similar scale. Spatially resolved measurements show that the oxygen density decreases exponentially from the surface but remains detectable up to approximately 1 mm above the surface, indicating significant application potential. Variations in the O2 admixture show a density maximum at 0.4%, confirming previous helium state enhanced actinometry measurements within the cavities.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003525; SC0020232
OSTI ID:
2505115
Report Number(s):
SAND--2025-00758J
Journal Information:
Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Journal Name: Plasma Sources Science and Technology Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 33; ISSN 0963-0252
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (29)

Combining non-thermal plasma with heterogeneous catalysis in waste gas treatment: A review journal February 2008
Non-thermal plasma technology for the conversion of CO 2 journal February 2017
A Review of Non-Thermal Plasma Technology: A novel solution for CO2 conversion and utilization journal January 2021
Plasma technology – a novel solution for CO 2 conversion? journal January 2017
O2(Δ1) production in He∕O2 mixtures in flowing low pressure plasmas journal September 2004
Validation of THz absorption spectroscopy by a comparison with ps-TALIF measurements of atomic oxygen densities journal August 2023
Absolute calibration of atomic density measurements by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy with two-photon excitation journal July 2001
Plasma–catalysis: the known knowns, the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns journal May 2016
Absolute atomic oxygen density measurements by two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy in an RF-excited atmospheric pressure plasma jet journal April 2005
Atomic oxygen formation in a radio-frequency driven micro-atmospheric pressure plasma jet journal June 2010
Atomic oxygen TALIF measurements in an atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma jet with in situ xenon calibration journal August 2013
Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in complex plasma chemistry models journal December 2015
The 2020 plasma catalysis roadmap journal August 2020
Tuning plasma parameters to control reactive species fluxes to substrates in the context of plasma catalysis journal March 2021
2D spatially resolved O atom density profiles in an atmospheric pressure plasma jet: from the active plasma volume to the effluent journal June 2021
Atomic oxygen density determination in the effluent of the COST reference source using in situ effective lifetime measurements in the presence of a liquid interface journal August 2021
Modular constructed metal-grid arrays—an alternative to silicon-based microplasma devices for catalytic applications journal March 2020
Two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence: rate and density-matrix regimes for plasma diagnostics journal May 2020
The spatial distribution of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet journal December 2020
Intra-cavity dynamics in a microplasma channel by side-on imaging journal January 2021
Measurement of the two-photon excitation cross-section of the 6p′[3/2]2 and 6p′[1/2]0 levels of Xe I at the wavelengths 224.3 and 222.6 nm journal July 2021
Electric field strengths within a micro cavity plasma array measured by Stark shift and splitting of a helium line pair journal June 2022
State enhanced actinometry in the COST microplasma jet journal September 2022
Spatially and temporally resolved atomic oxygen densities in a micro cavity plasma array journal February 2023
Absolute calibration of the ratio of Xe/O two-photon absorption cross-sections for O-TALIF applications journal February 2024
Electric field components within a micro-scaled DBD measured by Stark shifting and splitting of helium lines journal October 2024
Novel methods for determination and manipulation of surface charges performed on an atmospheric DBD microplasma journal October 2024
Absolute two-photon absorption and three-photon ionization cross sections for atomic oxygen journal July 1986
Plasma Catalysis: A Review of the Interdisciplinary Challenges Faced journal April 2020