CO2 decomposition to CO in the presence of up to 50% O2 using a non-thermal plasma at atmospheric temperature and pressure

CO2 can be converted to the more reactive species, CO and O, by non-thermal plasmas (NTPs) even in atmospheres containing significant quantities of O2. The conversion was 15–21%, when O2 concentration range 0–20% (remainder CO2). At 20% began decline, falling ~10% at 50% These conversions would require a few thousand K conventional “thermal” chemistry, absence catalyst, but here they were achieved ambient pressure temperature. NTP reactor used dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) design, packed with BaTiO3 spheres. varied between 0 CO2, temperatures below 373 atmospheric pressure, residence time 42 s. This discovery could open up new routes for direct decomposition O2, where presence have been assumed problematic. “activation” may possible chemistries use sequestration as is reactive. It also opportunities an oxidant, i.e. source O radical.