Studies on Active Species in N2 and N2-O2 Afterglows for Surface Treatments

Abstract

At low and atmospheric gas pressures, the production of active species in N2 and N2-O2 afterglows of electrical discharges is investigated. They are generated in microwave discharges at a wide range of gas pressures ranging from a few Torr to 100 Torr, as well as in corona discharges at atmospheric gas pressure.  The active species in N2 afterglows are N-atoms, which account for only a few percent of the total. The influence of O2 molecules at low concentrations in low-pressure N2 microwave plasmas and as an impurity in corona N2 discharges was studied in depth. For microbial decontamination and transmission of N-atoms through porous membranes, the interaction of N and O-atoms with surfaces is investigated. For low pressure microwave and atmospheric pressure corona discharges, the procedures of bacteria decontamination in N2-O2 afterglows are outlined. In microwave afterglows, the transmission of N-atoms across porous membranes is investigated at medium pressure (10-100 Torr).