A3: Excitation transfer between molecules in transient atmospheric pressure plasmas and its impact on plasma chemistry

Principal Investigators: Achim von Keudell

Team

von Keudell, Achim (Principal Investigator)

Yu, Siqi (PhD)

Seferoglu, Fatma-Nur (PhD)

Henze, Daniel (PhD)

Description

This project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the influence of the energy distribution of molecules in the plasma on different catalytic surfaces. It will focus on the identification of plasma catalytic mechanisms using a surface science experiment and a dedicated plasma source based on a dielectric barrier plasma jet combined with different catalytic surfaces. Investigations will be addressed to post-plasma catalysis, where a scalable plasma source will be developed.

Publications

• Plasma and flow simulation of the ion wind in a surface barrier discharge used for gas conversion benchmarked by Schlieren imaging
  S. Mohsenimehr, S. Wilczek, T. Mussenbrock, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Chem. Plasma Process. 45, 85-112 (2025)
  Repository: https://rdpcidat.rub.de/node/990
• Ion energy distributions from the impact of an atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet on surfaces
  D. Henze, L. Chauvet, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 34 095017 (2025)
  
• Nitrogen oxidation on a plasma-exposed surface
  S. Vervloedt, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Chemistry Plasma Processing 45, pages 1551–1565, (2025)
  
• A SDBD reactor for the removal of oxygen traces in hydrogen operated above atmospheric pressure: Experiment and Simulation
  Christian Oberste-Beulmann, Philipp Wirth, Soad Mohsenimehr, Timothy Oppotsch, Achim von Keudell, Peter Awakowicz, Martin Muhler
  Plasma Chemistry Plasma Processing 45 (5), 1415-1430 (2025)
  
• Impact of catalytic surfaces on atmospheric RF plasma dynamics
  S. Yu, A. von Keudell
  J. Phys. D: Applied Phys. (2025) accepted
  
• Reaction Mechanisms and Plasma-Catalyst Interaction in Plasma-Assisted Oxidation of n-Butane -- A Data-Driven Approach
  D. Reiser, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Chem. Plasma Process. 44, 867-890 (2024)
  
• Controlled synthesis of NO in an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma by suppressing NO destruction channels by plasma catalysis
  S. Yu, S. Vervloedt, A. von Keudell
  J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 57, 245203 (2024)
  Repository: https://rdpcidat.rub.de/node/871
• Ammonia synthesis by plasma catalysis in an atmospheric RF helium plasma
  S. Vervloedt, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 33, 045005 (2024)
  Repository: https://rdpcidat.rub.de/node/869
• Impact of the surface on He(2³S₁) and He₂(a³Σ_u⁺) metastables densities in atmospheric pressure RF plasma
  S. Yu, L. Chauvet, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 33, 115015 (2024)
  
• Impact of catalysis on n-butane oxidation in an RF atmospheric pressure plasma
  C. Stewig, L. Chauvet, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 10, 105006 (2023)
  Repository: https://rdpcidat.rub.de/node/875
• Surface dielectric barrier discharge (sDBD) for flow control in plasma conversion
  S. Mohsenimehr, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Chem. Plasma Process. 43, 1633-1649 (2023)
  Repository: https://rdpcidat.rub.de/node/873
• Oxygen removal from a hydrocarbon containing gas stream by plasma catalysis
  T. Urbanietz, C. Stewig, M. Böke, A. von Keudell
  Plasma Chem Plasma Process 41, 619 (2021)
  Repository: https://rdpcidat.rub.de/node/226
• Dedicated setup to isolate plasma catalysis mechanisms
  C. Stewig, T. Urbanietz, L. Chauvet, M. Böke, A. von Keudell
  J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 54, 134005 (2021)
  Repository: https://rdpcidat.rub.de/node/220
• Determining Chemical Reaction Systems in Plasma Catalytic Conversion of Hydrocarbons using Genetic Algorithms
  D. Reiser, A. von Keudell, T. Urbanietz
  Plasma Chem Plasma Process 41, 793 (2021)
  Repository: https://rdpcidat.rub.de/node/317
• Excitation and dissociation of CO₂ heavily diluted in noble gas atmospheric pressure plasmas
  C. Stewig, S. Schüttler, T. Urbanietz, M. Böke, A. von Keudell
  J. Phys. D 53, 125205 (2020)
  
• Non-equilibrium excitation of CO₂ in an atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet
  T. Urbanietz, M. Böke, V. Schulz-von der Gathen, A. von Keudell
  J. Phys. D 51, 345202 (2018)
  

Thesis

• Christoph Stewig, PhD thesis - 12/2022
  Excitation transfer between molecules in transient atmospheric pressure plasmas and its impact on plasma chemistry
• Steffen Schüttler, Bachelor thesis - 09/2018
  Influence of Catalysts on CO₂-Conversion in Non-Equilibrium Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas
• Thilo Romba, Bachelor thesis - 09/2018
  Calculation of Absorption Spectra of Methane in Non-Equilibrium Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas
• Theresa Urbanietz, PhD thesis - 09/2022
  Plasma Catalysis during Conversion of Methane/Oxygen/Hydrogen Gas Mixtures
• Boris Daniil, Bachelor thesis - 01/2021
  Simulation der Nachweisempfindlichkeit eines Atmosphärendruck-Massenspektrometers
• Steijn Vervloedt, PhD thesis - 12/2025
  Plasma catalysis for NH₃ formation
• Daniel Henze, Bachelor thesis - 09/2022
  Measurement of carbon monoxide production in atmospheric pressure plasmas
• Siqi Yu, PhD thesis - ongoing
  Plasma catalysis for NO formation
• Fatma-Nur Seferoglu, PhD thesis - ongoing
  Data regression for the plasma chemistry of VOC removal by plasmas
• Daniel Henze, PhD thesis - ongoing
  Excitation transfer between molecules in transient atmospheric pressure plasmas and its impact on plasma chemistry

Further reading

• Unexpected O and O₃ production in the effluent of He/O₂ microplasma jets emanating into ambient air
  D. Ellerweg, A. von Keudell, J. Benedikt
  Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 21, 034019 (2012)