Plasma Generation in a Gas Discharge System With Irradiated Porous Zeolite

The influence of pressure [from atmospheric pressure (AP) to 10(-2) torr] and beta-radiation (1-kGy beta doses) on the current-voltage characteristics, charge trapping effects in porous surfaces, and breakdown voltage (UB) in AP microplasmas are discussed for the first time. This is due to the zeolite cathode (ZC) exposure to beta-radiation resulting in substantial decreases in the UB, discharge currents, and conductivity due to increase in porosity of the material. Results indicated the enhancement of plasma light intensity and electron emission from the ZC surface with the release of trapped electrons which are captured by the defect centers following beta-irradiation. The porosity of the ZC and radiation defect centers has a significant influence on the electrical and optical properties of the devices manufactured on its base

Effects of pressure and electric field on the charge transport mechanisms in the silver-modified-zeolite porous microstructure

The electrical properties and charge transport mechanisms for nanoporous natural zeolite of clinoptilolite and its silver modified form were studied for the first time in a wide gas pressure range (4-760 Torr) and electric field strength (50-350 kV/cm) at room temperature using two different cell configurations. One of the used cells contained a gas discharge gap, which allowed investigating the electronic conduction route in zeolite cathodes (ZC) as well. The influence of pressure, electric field and cell types on the dc conductivity was described. The resistivity decreased intensely from 10(10) to 10(6) Omega cm at 435 V upon increasing the pressure from 4 to 760 (AP) Torr, which can be due to the ionic mobility of ZC. The physical role of Ag metal nanoparticles in the generation and maintenance of cold plasma stabilization over the surface of ZCs was investigated. For this purpose, the effect of pressure and electric field on the charge transport mechanisms in the silver-modified-zeolite porous microstructure and physicochemical interaction of the discharge plasma with the different Ag loadings as was studied. The electric field and pressure was found to be basic parameters determining the characteristics,of the discharge plasma and charge transport mechanisms. When high voltages were applied to the cell with gas discharge gap, the ionization phenomena was observed to increase, which indicated that the electronic conduction is most likely to contribute to the dc conduction in the zeolite. Therefore, the ionic and electronic transport mechanisms were both found to influence the transport mechanisms

New Mixed Conductivity Mechanisms in the Cold Plasma Device Based on Silver-Modified Zeolite Microporous Electronic Materials

We have analyzed the interaction between microdischarge and microporous zeolite electronic materials modified by silver (Ag-0) nanoparticles (resistivity similar to 10(11) to 10(6) Omega cm) on the atmospheric pressure cold plasma generation in air. The generation and maintenance of stable cold plasma is studied according to the effect of the Ag-0 nanoparticles. The role of charge carriers in mixed conductivity processes and electrical features of zeolite from low pressure to atmospheric pressure is analyzed in air microplasmas for both before and after breakdown regimes. The results obtained from the experiments indicate that Ag-0 nanoparticles play a significant role in considerably reducing the breakdown voltage in plasma electronic devices with microporous zeolite electronic materials