Advancing DBD Plasma Chemistry: Insights into Reactive Nitrogen Species such as NO2, N2O5, and N2O Optimization and Species Reactivity through Experiments and MD Simulations

Masoom Shaban, Nina Merkert, Adri C.T. van Duin, Diana van Duin, Alfred P. Weber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study aims to fine-tune the plasma composition with a particular emphasis on reactive nitrogen species (RNS) including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5), and nitrous oxide (N2O), produced by a self-constructed cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge (CDBD). We demonstrated the effective manipulation of the plasma chemical profile by optimizing electrical properties, including the applied voltage and frequency, and by adjusting the nitrogen and oxygen ratios in the gas mixture. Additionally, quantification of these active species was achieved using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The study further extends to exploring the aerosol polymerization of acrylamide (AM) into polyacrylamide (PAM), serving as a model reaction to evaluate the reactivity of different plasma-generated species, highlighting the significant role of NO2 in achieving high polymerization yields. Complementing our experimental data, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, based on the ReaxFF reactive force field potential, explored the interactions between reactive oxygen species, specifically hydroxyl radicals (OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), with water molecules. Understanding these interactions, combined with the optimization of plasma chemistry, is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of DBD plasma in environmental applications like air purification and water treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16087-16099
Number of pages13
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume58
Issue number36
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 10 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry

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