Design and characterization of a low-cost Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ)

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jets (APPJs) belong to the class of high pressure, room temperature plasma production mechanisms that have a large set of biological applications by killing harmful pathogens (eg. salmonella on food surfaces) or altering the surface chemistry of the target material (eg. seeds, chicken feathers). High frequency pulsed DC discharges are typically used to control the corresponding plasma characteristics. However, localized applications of a pencil like APPJ discharge and the high cost of the controlling electronics prevent scaling up of the helpful plasma application set ups. Here we built and studied an argon based APPJ, ionized by high frequency pulsed DC, AC, and/or RF power under variable electrode spacings, neutral gas flow rates and ionization voltages to determine the best combinations with the aim of producing a relatively inexpensive way of delivering room temperature, atmospheric pressure plasmas. This will then allow for the scaling up of such a system to be used on larger surface areas.