OH density optimization in atmospheric-pressure plasma jet by using multiple ring electrodes

OH radical is one of the important reactive species generated by non-equilibrium atmospheric-pressure plasma jets, which is believed to play an important role in plasma medicine applications such as cancer therapy, wound healing and sterilization. In this study, a method to increase OH density is proposed. By using multiple pairs of ring electrodes, we generate 3-5 times more OH radicals than in the common device which uses only one high-voltage ring electrode. Discharge imaging shows that the plasma plume with only one ring electrode is longer and its emission intensity is higher than those with multiple pairs of ring electrodes. Further studies indicate that the distribution of OH radicals is significantly influenced by the gas flow rate. At higher gas flow rates, the OH peak concentration is detected further away from the nozzle, and the position of the peak OH concentration correlates with the product of the gas flow velocity and the pulse duration. As observed from the emission spectra, multiple electrodes only enhance the plasma inside the tube rather than the plasma plume in the surrounding air. These results suggest that the OH radicals are mainly generated inside the tube and then delivered to the outer plasma plume region by the gas flow. (c) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.