Atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasma optimization for efficient generation of UV radiation and active radicals

Atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasma sources are being actively developed for a variety of industrial and military applications. Many of these applications employ ultraviolet (UV) radiation or active species (radicals) generated by the plasma. Theefficiency of plasma sources depends on the energy distribution of electrons which are mainly responsible for the production of radicals and excited species in the plasma and undesirable gas heating. Flexible control of the electron energy spectrum ispossible in pulsed power operating regimes. The goal of this project is to optimize short-pulse, high-voltage plasma sources for efficient production of UV radiation and radicals in application to surface modification, sterilization and decontamination oftemperature sensitive materials. The project will use an optimal balance of experimental research conducted at Old Dominion University and computer simulations performed at CFD Research Corporation. In phase I, we will design and optimize a pulsed powerplasma source and validate the design concepts by quantitative measurements of radical concentrations, UV emission spectra and power density, and the gas temperature for various discharge conditions. In phase II, we will demonstrate the efficiency of thenew plasma source for low temperature oxidation, sterilization and wettability change of materials. This research will produce novel plasma source that can be used by aerospace and biomedical industries for surface treatment of temperature sensitivematerials, low temperature sterilization and decontamination. Sterilization of food and medical instruments market alone may exceed $100M per year. Commercial market for other applications is expected to be at least $10-20M per year.