Comparison of volume and surface dielectric barrier discharges*

Dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) are commonly used for disinfection, wound healing, surface functionalization, and ozone production. Two of the primary types of DBDs are Surface dielectric barrier discharges (SDBD) and Volume dielectric barrier discharges (VDBD). For VDBDs, plasma ignites in a gap between two electrodes, one of which is covered with a dielectric. SDBDs are different in that there is no gap, and plasma ignites along the surface of the dielectric. This research compares a VDBD and an SDBD which both operate with the same power supply, and utilize a customized electrode allowing us to easily switch between the SDBD and VDBD. 

Here, specifically the comparisons of the transferred charges found by taking current and voltage data, as well as the intensities, reduced electric field, and gas temperatures of the N2(C-B) and N2+(B-X) emission bands from Optical Emission Spectroscopy data on metal, glass, and liquid will be shown. For both the SDBD and VDBD data, measurements were taken at varying voltages, as well as varying gap distances to the treatment surface. The analysis of the differences in charge transfer, gas temperature, intensity, and electric field for the different voltages and gap distances is useful in determining the safest and most beneficial circumstances needed to use plasma for skin treatment. Additionally, looking at these values for both SDBDs and VDBDs can show the advantages and/or drawbacks associated with each.