The Conversion of Carbon Dioxide in Radio-Frequency Driven Micro Atmospheric Plasma Jets

One of the biggest challenges at present is the recycling of greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals and new fuels by using renewable energy sources. In the field of low-temperature plasmas, the energy-efficient splitting of carbon dioxide is a current research topic. In contrast to thermal conversion, plasma-based conversion can control the electron energy distribution function, and thus, the dissociation pathway of carbon dioxide. In this work, a radio-frequency driven microscopic atmospheric plasma jet (COST reference jet) is used to investigate the dynamics of reactive and charged species through a 30 mm long discharge channel with a quadratic cross-section of 1 mm 2 . In addition to carbon dioxide, helium is included as a co-reactant gas in order to sustain the plasma through the channel. 2D fluid simulations with the computer program nonPDPSIM are performed for different discharge conditions, e.g., gas flow rate, driving voltage and applied frequency. Both simulation models are developed by Mark Kushner from the University of Michigan. The dynamics of the charged particles, as well as the dynamics of the conversion process, are analyzed on their different timescales. In addition to the simulation work, experimental measurements provide first impressions about the agreement of the results.