Mass spectrometric analysis of small negative ions (e/m < 100) produced by Trichel pulse negative corona discharge fed by ozonised air

Abstract

Mass spectrometric analysis of small negative ions (e/m < 100) produced by DC negative corona discharge in ozonised wet air both in flow and flow-stopped regimes was conducted at pressure of 30 kPa. The point-to-plain electrode system has been used. The yield of individual ions is strongly affected by trace concentrations of ozone in both regimes. Ozone concentration greater than 25 ppm is sufficient to completely suppress the appearance of O2- and a NO2- ion as well as theirs clusters in the mass spectra. The temporal increase in concentration of NO3- ions and NO3-.(H2O)n (n = 1, 2) hydrated clusters was observed in flow-stopped regime accompanied by reduction in yield of CO3- ion and its water clusters CO3-.(H2O)n (n = 1, 2), which otherwise are the dominant ions in flowing wet air free of ozone. In contrast the addition of ozone into the flow of wet air resulted in evident increase in abundance of the clusters CO3-.(H2O)n (n = 1, 2). This is an evidence of an active role of nitrous oxide produced in flow-stopped regime in sufficient amount. The measured electrical conductivity of drift region confirmed the role of additional dissociative attachment of electrons by ozone molecules as well as a formation of clusters of lower mobility with increasing ozone concentration in the discharge gap