Dielectric-Barrier Discharges. Principle and Applications

Abstract
Dielectric-barrier discharges (silent discharges) are non-equilibrium discharges that can be conveniently operated over a wide temperature and pressure range. At about atmospheric pressure electrical breakdown occurs in many independent thin current filaments. These short-lived microdischarges have properties of transient high pressure glow discharges with electron energies ideally suited for exciting or dissociating background gas atoms and molecules. The traditional application for large-scale ozone generation is discussed together with novel applications in excimer UV lamps, high power CO₂ lasers and plasma display panels. Additional applications for surface treatment and pollution control are rapidly emerging technologies. Recent results on greenhouse gas recycling and utilisation in dielectric-barrier discharges are also discussed.