2021/02/18 by Quan‐Zhi Zhang, Q. Zhang, Ryan T. Nguyen-Smith +11 · 29 citations
Chemistry · Engineering · Medicine · Physics and Astronomy · #Analytical Chemistry (journal) #Atmospheric pressure #Chemistry #Dielectric #Dielectric barrier discharge #Electrode #Electrostatic Discharge in Electronics #Materials science #Mechanics #Molecular physics #Nanosecond #Optics #Optoelectronics #Physics #Plasma #Plasma Applications and Diagnostics #Plasma Diagnostics and Applications #Streamer discharge #Voltage #Waveform #physics.plasm-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/1361-6595/abf598
published in Plasma Sources Science and Technology 30(7), 075017 (IOP Publishing)
arxiv created 2021/02/18 · openalex publication_date 2021/04/07 · arxiv updated 2021/08/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract The propagation mechanisms of plasma streamers have been observed and investigated in a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) using 2D particle in cell simulations. The investigations are carried out under a simulated air mixture, 80% N 2 and 20% O 2 , at atmospheric pressure, 100 kPa, under both DC conditions and a pulsed DC waveform that represent AC conditions. The simulated geometry is a simplification of the symmetric and fully exposed SDBD resulting in the simultaneous ignition of both positive and negative streamers on either side of the Al 2 O 3 dielectric barrier. In order to determine the interactivity of the two streamers, the propagation behavior for the positive and negative streamers are investigated both independently and simultaneously under identical constant voltage conditions. An additional focus is implored under a fast sub nanosecond rise time square voltage pulse alternating between positive and negative voltage conditions, thus providing insight into the dynamics of the streamers under alternating polarity switches. It is shown that the simultaneous ignition of both streamers, as well as using the pulsed DC conditions, providing both an enhanced discharge and an increased surface coverage. It is also shown that additional streamer branching may occur in a cross section that is difficult to experimentally observe. The enhanced discharge and surface coverage may be beneficial to many applications such as, but are not limited to: air purification, volatile organic compound removal, and plasma enhanced catalysis.