Interrogation of the Plasma-Catalyst Interface via In Situ/Operando Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy
Russell J Clarke1, Jason C Hicks1
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
ACS Engineering Au
|December 27, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a versatile dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma cell for simultaneous surface, plasma, and gas phase analysis. This tool advances understanding of plasma-surface interactions in chemical transformations.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Plasma Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Plasma-surface coupling enables chemical transformations under mild conditions.
- Limited in situ/operando techniques hinder understanding of plasma-solid interactions.
- Characterizing simultaneous surface, plasma, and gas phase dynamics is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a simple, adaptable dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma cell design.
- To enable simultaneous characterization of plasma-surface interactions using multiple spectroscopic methods.
- To facilitate a deeper understanding of surface mechanisms in plasma-driven chemical reactions.
Main Methods:
- Designed and implemented a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma cell.
- Integrated Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for surface analysis.
- Coupled optical emission spectroscopy (OES) for plasma phase and mass spectrometry (MS) for gas phase characterization.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated plasma oxidation of amine-functionalized SBA-15, showing selective oxidation to nitro groups.
- Observed evolution of NOX species on platinum and silica surfaces during low-temperature nitrogen oxidation.
- Provided direct evidence of plasma-surface interactions and chemical modifications.
Conclusions:
- The developed DBD plasma cell is a versatile tool for studying plasma-surface coupling.
- Simultaneous multi-spectroscopic analysis enhances mechanistic understanding of plasma-driven reactions.
- The system has broad applications in catalysis, materials science, and chemical synthesis.
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