In-situ emission spectroscopy and plasmachemical analysis of carbon dioxide dissociation in atmospheric pressure microchannel plasma

Summary form only given. Remediation of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a priority worldwide because of its impact on global warming. Uniform and stable glow discharges of CO₂ have been achieved in an array of microchannel plasma devices and conversion (dissociation) efficiencies up to 40 % have been realized with an optimal channel structure and mass flow rate of 60 sccm per channel. Quantitative analysis of the effluent from microchannel plasmas in 1 atm. of flowing CO₂ has been conducted with mass spectrometry and electrochemical techniques. Time-and spatially-resolved emission spectroscopy with a gated, intensified CCD detector shows CO and C₂ to be the dominant emitters in the 300~800 nm spectral region. The spatial variation of CO₂ fragments along a single channel, and the kinetics of the system, will be discussed.