Discharge modes and liquid interactions for plasma-bubble discharges

Abstract

Plasma bubbles are regarded as a promising means of interacting plasma discharges and liquids due to their high efficiency in the generation of reactive species. The discharge mode and characteristics are significant factors that should be considered. In this study, the plasmas are initially generated in the gas phase and then driven by the gas flow to diffuse into the solution through the two holes at the lower part of the quartz tube to form plasma bubbles. The discharge modes, characteristics, and plasma–liquid interactions in two different configurations, i.e., bare electrode and dielectric-coated electrode, are investigated. It is found that the discharge mode induced for the two structures is different, with a hybrid-mode operating in the bare electrode design and a filamentary mode operating in the dielectric design. When the applied voltage is increased, a filamentary-to-spark transition occurs in the bare structure, while the discharge remains relatively stable in the dielectric design. Direct and intense contact between the discharge and the solution in the bare structure greatly promotes the physio-chemical reactions and results in obvious changes in H2O2 concentration, solution pH, conductivity, and temperature. This study provides insights into hybrid gas–liquid discharges and reactor design for plasma bubble generation.