Cold Atmospheric Plasma Discharges and Surface Modification
This research community investigates the generation, control, and application of ionized gas discharges at near-atmospheric pressure, focusing on how these plasmas interact with surfaces, liquids, and biological materials for processing and treatment.
The work centers on dielectric barrier discharges, plasma jets, and glow discharges using noble gases like argon and helium, as well as oxygen and nitrogen. Recurring themes include the characterization of electron energy distributions, optical emission spectroscopy, and the chemical modification of polymer surfaces for adhesion. A significant portion of the research applies these non-thermal plasmas to food safety, including the decontamination of produce, the modification of protein structures, and the generation of plasma-activated water for antimicrobial use. Additionally, the community examines plasma-aided catalysis for environmental remediation and the development of ion sources for propulsion and fusion applications, often supported by numerical simulations of plasma dynamics.
The community is most heavily represented in research tracked for Argon, constituting 18.4% of all Argon-related papers, and for Neon, at 13.3%. It also holds a substantial share of Krypton research (9.9%) and Xenon research (8.9%).
The community comprises 42,524 papers, published primarily in the Journal of Applied Physics, Plasma Sources Science and Technology, and Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing.
Recent work continues to focus on the antimicrobial efficacy of plasma-activated water against biofilms, the use of cold plasma for food fermentation and shelf-life extension, and the surface modification of carbon materials and polymers.