Dedicated setup to isolate plasma catalysis mechanisms

Abstract

Abstract Plasma catalysis, the combination of plasma and catalysis, is used to achieve efficient molecule conversion, supporting the flexibility of operating parameters and feed gases. By combining plasmas with conventional thermal catalysis, the temperature windows may be changed and the process may be made insensitive to catalyst poisoning. However, understanding plasma catalysis mechanisms is extremely difficult, due to the strong coupling between plasma, gas-phase chemistry and surface. A multitude of reaction pathways may be enhanced or reduced by the presence of a plasma that provides excited species as reaction partners. We developed a robust setup to analyse those processes, based on a parallel-plate atmospheric-pressure plasma jet that allows a plug flow design. The plasma chemistry is analysed by Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The electrodes in contact with the plasma are temperature controlled and can easily be replaced to apply a catalyst on top of them. The basic characteristics of the setup are discussed and three examples for its application are given: (a) the analysis of methane oxidation using the plug flow scheme; (b) the plasma catalytic conversion of CO2, and (c) the plasma catalytic conversion of methane in methane–oxygen mixtures.