Effect of grounded electrode configurations on electrical and optical characteristics of needle-plate dielectric barrier discharge

Abstract This study investigates the influence of hollow tubular and solid column grounded electrodes on the discharge characteristics of needle-plate dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in atmospheric pressure argon. A comprehensive analysis of the electrical and optical properties of the two DBD devices was conducted, including discharge power, vibrational temperature, rotational temperature, electron excitation temperature, and electron density. Electrostatic field simulations were also performed to evaluate the impact of grounded electrode geometry. Results indicate that the hollow tubular device exhibits superior performance to the solid column device, with 15% higher discharge power, 14% greater electron density at 9 kV, alongside higher vibrational, rotational, and electron excitation temperatures. Polyethylene treatment tests further confirmed its 50% higher efficacy in enhancing hydrophilicity. These advantages of the hollow tubular device are attributed to its local field strength at the electrode edge, which is 55% higher than that of the solid column device.