Spectroscopic analysis of single and multiphase electrical discharge for clean energy conversion

Abstract In this study, we examined non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma processes operating under varying conditions using different liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon materials. The light emission from the discharges were analyzed through optical emission spectroscopy to comprehend the products generated in different parameter space. The gaseous products from each of these analyses were also collected and analyzed through gas chromatography. Analysis of the optical emission from the discharge and concentration of the gaseous products show a linear trend between emission intensity ratio H α /C 2 and gas concentration ratio H 2 /C 2 H x . Gas temperature and electronic excitation temperature of different experimental conditions were also compared and indicates that spark discharge relates to higher electronic excitation temperature compared to glow discharge of similar medium. Higher electronic excitation temperature leads to generation of different products from spark discharge compared to glow discharge. Glow discharge generates more of the intermediate products. Whereas spark discharge, because of its higher electronic excitation temperature, leads to higher rate of dissociation and therefore generates more of the dissociated products. Glow discharge, for example generates more of OH and H from the moisture present in the carrier gas as impurity, whereas spark discharge would generate more of H α and O particles further breaking down the OH bonds. Finally, UV–Vis analysis was performed on the liquid products of the discharge and reveals that the photo-centers and the newly generated soot nano particles absorb the UV range lights and some of the visible range light emission mostly up to ∼600 nm.