Enhancement of Active Species Production in Non-equilibrium N₂/H₂ Plasma with Ferroelectric Electrode

This study investigates the active species production, such as N and H atoms, in a non- equilibrium N₂/H₂ plasma using a ferroelectric barrier discharge in N₂/H₂ mixtures. By utilizing time-resolved in-situ femtosecond two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence diagnostic, this research provides kinetic data of active species production enhancements by ferroelectric electrodes. Results show that the N number density increases by a factor of two and one order of magnitude in pure N₂ and N₂/H₂ mixture, respectively, by the ferroelectric electrode due to the high electric field required for nitrogen dissociation. H production is also enhanced by both the increased electric field in ferroelectric barrier discharge in pure H₂ plasma, and the additional H-production reaction pathway via H₂(v)+N → NH+H. The enhancements of N and H production in ferroelectric barrier discharge greatly promote its applicability in energy-efficient green manufacturing such as ammonia synthesis.