Dielectric-barrier discharges (silent discharges) are used on a large industrial scale. They combine the advantages of non-equilibrium plasma properties with the ease of atmospheric-pressure operation. A prominent feature is the simple scalability from small laboratory reactors to large industrial installations with megawatt input powers. Efficient and cost-effective all-solid-state power supplies are available. The preferred frequency range lies between 1 kHz and 10 MHz, the preferred pressure range between 10 kPa and 500 kPa. Industrial applications include ozone generation, pollution control, surface treatment, high power CO2 lasers, ultraviolet excimer lamps, excimer based mercury-free fluorescent lamps, and flat large-area plasma displays. Depending on the application and the operating conditions the discharge can have pronounced filamentary structure or fairly diffuse appearance. History, discharge physics, and plasma chemistry of dielectric-barrier discharges and their applications are discussed in detail.

https://www3.nd.edu/~sst/teaching/AME60637/reading/2003_PCPP_Kogelschatz_dbd_review.pdf

Dielectric-barrier Discharges: Their History, Discharge Physics, and Industrial Applications

The boundary layer equations for plane, incompressible, and steady flow are 

$$\matrix{ {u{{\partial u} \over {\partial x}} + v{{\partial u} \over {\partial y}} = - {1 \over \varrho }{{\partial p} \over {\partial x}} + v{{{\partial ^2}u} \over {\partial {y^2}}},} \cr {0 = {{\partial p} \over {\partial y}},} \cr {{{\partial u} \over {\partial x}} + {{\partial v} \over {\partial y}} = 0.} \cr }$$

Boundary Layer Theory

The applications of copper (Cu) and Cu-based nanoparticles, which are based on the earth-abundant and inexpensive copper metal, have generated a great deal of interest in recent years, especially in the field of catalysis. The possible modification of the chemical and physical properties of these nanoparticles using different synthetic strategies and conditions and/or via postsynthetic chemical treatments has been largely responsible for the rapid growth of interest in these nanomaterials and their applications in catalysis. In addition, the design and development of novel support and/or multimetallic systems (e.g., alloys, etc.) has also made significant contributions to the field. In this comprehensive review, we report different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles (metallic copper, copper oxides, and hybrid copper nanostructures) and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications i...

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00482

Cu and Cu-Based Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications in Catalysis.

Active flow control is a topic in full expansion due to associated industrial applications of huge importance, particularly for aeronautics. Among all flow control methods, such as the use of mechanical flaps, wall synthetic jets or MEMS, plasma-based devices are very promising. The main advantages of such systems are their robustness, simplicity, low power consumption and ability for real-time control at high frequency. This paper is a review of the worldwide works on this topic, from its origin to the present. It is divided into two main parts. The first one is dedicated to the recent knowledge concerning the electric wind induced by surface non-thermal plasma actuators, acting in air at atmospheric pressure. Typically, it can reach 8 m s−1 at a distance of 0.5 mm from the wall. In the second part, works concerning active airflow control by these plasma actuators are presented. Very efficient results have been obtained for low-velocity subsonic airflows (typically U∞ ≤ 30 m s−1 and Reynolds number of a few 105), and promising results at higher velocities indicate that plasma actuators could be used in aeronautics.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0022-3727/40/3/S01/pdf

Airflow control by non-thermal plasma actuators

This introductory review on plasma health care is intended to provide the interested reader with a summary of the current status of this emerging field, its scope, and its broad interdisciplinary approach, ranging from plasma physics, chemistry and technology, to microbiology, biochemistry, biophysics, medicine and hygiene. Apart from the basic plasma processes and the restrictions and requirements set by international health standards, the review focuses on plasma interaction with prokaryotic cells (bacteria), eukaryotic cells (mammalian cells), cell membranes, DNA etc. In so doing, some of the unfamiliar terminology—an unavoidable by-product of interdisciplinary research—is covered and explained. Plasma health care may provide a fast and efficient new path for effective hospital (and other public buildings) hygiene— helping to prevent and contain diseases that are continuously gaining ground as resistance of pathogens to antibiotics grows. The delivery of medically active 'substances' at the molecular or ionic level is another exciting topic of research through effects on cell walls (permeabilization), cell excitation (paracrine action) and the introduction of reactive species into cell cytoplasm. Electric fields, charging of surfaces, current flows etc can also affect tissue in a controlled way. The field is young and hopes are high. It is fitting to cover the beginnings in New Journal of Physics, since it is the physics (and non- equilibrium chemistry) of room temperature atmospheric pressure plasmas that have made this development of plasma health care possible.

/pdf/plasma-medicine-an-introductory-review-16ncxlrbef.pdf

Plasma medicine: an introductory review

The barrier discharge: basic properties and applications to surface treatment

The aim of this paper is to provide a survey of plasma sources at atmospheric pressure used for microbicidal treatment. In order to consider the interdisciplinary character of this topic an introduction and definition of basic terms and procedures are given for plasma as well as for microbicidal issues. The list of plasma sources makes no claim to be complete, but to represent the main principles of plasma generation at atmospheric pressure and to give an example of their microbicidal efficiency. The interpretation of the microbicidal results remain difficult due to the non-standardized methods used by different authors and due to the fact that small variations in the setup can change the results dramatically.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00585169/document

Low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma sources for microbial decontamination

Water disinfection by indirect plasma treatment was investigated using a surface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Liquid was neither part of the discharge electrode configuration nor stirred during plasma treatment. High concentrations (106–108 cfu·mL−1) of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus have been completely inactivated within 5–15 min, depending on liquid sample volume. Inactivation occurred in non-buffered liquids, only, where pH decrease was found. Measurements of pH, nitrate, and nitrite concentrations after DBD plasma or NO gas treatment lead to the conclusion that nitric acid formation from plasma-generated reactive nitrogen species are the main source of liquid acidification. Incubation of bacteria in nitric acid alone did not result in comparable inactivation effects. Increase of H2O2 concentration was found as a result of plasma treatment of liquids but not after treatment by NO gas. Therefore, synergistic action of both reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are discussed to be responsible for antimicrobial plasma effects.

The Role of Acidification for Antimicrobial Activity of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma in Liquids

Dielectric Barrier Discharges (DBDs) are plasmas generated in configurations with an insulating (dielectric) material between the electrodes which is responsible for a self-pulsing operation. DBDs are a typical example of nonthermal atmospheric or normal pressure gas discharges. Initially used for the generation of ozone, they have opened up many other fields of application. Therefore DBDs are a relevant tool in current plasma technology as well as an object for fundamental studies. Another motivation for further research is the fact, that so-called partial discharges in insulated high voltage systems are special types of DBDs. The breakdown processes, the formation of structures, and the role of surface processes are currently under investigation. This review is intended to give an update to the already existing literature on DBDs considering the research and development within the last two decades. The main principles and different modes of discharge generation are summarized. A collection of known as well as special electrode configurations and reactor designs will be presented. This shall demonstrate the different and broad possibilities, but also the similarities and common aspects of devices for different fields of applications explored within the last years. The main part is devoted to the progress on the investigation of different aspects of breakdown and plasma formation with the focus on single filaments or microdischarges. This includes a summary of the current knowledge on the electrical characterization of filamentary DBDs. In particular, the recent new insights on the elementary volume and surface memory mechanisms in these discharges will be discussed. An outlook for the forthcoming challenges on research and development will be given. Page 1 of 47 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT PSST-101368.R1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 A cc ep e M nu sc rip t Progress on DBD Sources and Filaments 2

/pdf/dielectric-barrier-discharges-progress-on-plasma-sources-and-47w32a77wl.pdf

Dielectric barrier discharges: progress on plasma sources and on the understanding of regimes and single filaments

A set of minimum standards which have to be adjusted if a plasma source is intended for therapeutic applications has been defined. The main performance parameters of an optimized low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma source were investigated and controlled. This has been done to discuss global risk factors that have to be avoided during application. By using this minimum standard set of parameters it should become possible to directly compare different atmospheric plasma sources for special biomedical applications and to derive optimum treatment parameters found on different sources and locations. Up to now a strict comparison is mainly done indirectly by investigating the effect of the plasma treatment on the surface. Temperature, thermal load, UV radiation, production of radicals and toxic gases and the resulting biological effects have been investigated to minimize risk factors and to indicate first meaningful parameter ranges (dosages) for therapeutic applications. The mix of these parameters (like mixing a cocktail) has to be adapted individually for each application. For practical use constant energetic conditions at the visible tip of the investigated jet could be observed, therefore it could be recommended to adjust the visible tip of the pen in such a way that it just touches the surface.

Ronny Brandenburg

Papers

The barrier discharge: basic properties and applications to surface treatment

Low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma sources for microbial decontamination

The Role of Acidification for Antimicrobial Activity of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma in Liquids

Dielectric barrier discharges: progress on plasma sources and on the understanding of regimes and single filaments

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet for Medical Therapy: Plasma Parameters and Risk Estimation