Ozone generation in a negative corona discharge fed with N2O and O2

Abstract

Ozone production in a negative corona discharge has been studied experimentally at atmospheric pressure in mixtures of N2O+O2 at ambient temperature. Ozone formation was found to be dramatically reduced with increase in the content of N2O in the mixture. The reaction of O(1D) with nitrous oxide is the most likely process reducing the rate of ozone generation. A considerable decrease in the mean discharge current at a constant voltage was also observed with increasing content of nitrous oxide in the mixture and is attributed to the formation of anions in the discharge. The low values of the calculated mobility of negative charge carriers in the drift region of the discharge is caused by the formation of O− · (N2O)n and NO−·(N2O)n cluster anions in the drift region of the negative corona discharge.