| AVS 54th International Symposium | |
| Plasma Science and Technology | Wednesday Sessions |
| Session PS2-WeM |
| Session: | Plasma-Surface Interactions I |
| Presenter: | M.M. Morgan, Colorado State University |
| Authors: | M.M. Morgan, Colorado State University E.R. Fisher, Colorado State University |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Nitrogen oxides (NOx), pollutants produced primarily from engine exhaust, contribute significantly to global air pollution. To reduce NOx emissions, catalysts involved in exhaust treatment must be improved. A greater understanding of fundamental chemical gas-phase and gas-surface processes is, therefore, required. One promising solution is plasma-catalytic processes for removal of pollutants, specifically nitric oxide (NO), from exhaust gases. Our imaging of radicals interacting with surfaces (IRIS) technique allows us to simultaneously examine the gas-phase, perform surface analyses, and probe the gas-surface interface. Here, we have used IRIS to address the fundamental issue of NOx removal by measuring relative gas-phase densities and by examining the steady-state surface reactivity of plasma-generated species on catalytic surfaces. Data from relative gas phase density studies suggest that increased water content and applied rf powers are required to diminish a majority of NO emissions. Preliminary IRIS data suggest that NO scatters off of surfaces with a high probability. Additional data on the internal temperature of NO in these systems as a function of plasma parameters will also be discussed.