Characterization of Atmospheric Pressure Carbon Dioxide Dissociation in Arrays of Microplasma Channels by Emission Spectroscopy and Effluent Analysis

Levied by rigorous regulations, the enormous cost of atmospheric carbon dioxide emission urged voracious demands on remediation technologies globally. Microplasma technology is being investigated as a new candidate to efficiently dissociate or remediate carbon dioxide contained in atmosphere. At a flow rate of 60 sccm of pure CO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ feedstock gas, dissociation degree of up to 14{\%} has been achieved with stable glow discharges in an array of Al/Al$_{\mathrm{2}}$O$_{\mathrm{3}}$ microplasma channels. In-situ characterizations of the effluent gases were conducted with residual gas analysis, gas chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, time and spatially resolved emission spectroscopy recorded with an intensified charge-coupled device in the 300-800nm region revealed the excitation of CO and C$_{\mathrm{2}}$ species. The implications on the possible plasma chemistry and its reaction mechanisms in the microdischarge will be discussed.