The LisbOn KInetics Boltzmann (LoKI-B) is an open-source simulation tool (https://github. com/IST-Lisbon/LoKI) that solves a time and space independent form of the two-term electron Boltzmann equation, for non-magnetised non-equilibrium low-temperature plasmas excited by DC/HF electric fields from different gases or gas mixtures. LoKI-B was developed as a response to the need of having an electron Boltzmann solver easily addressing the simulation of the electron kinetics in any complex gas mixture (of atomic/molecular species), describing first and second-kind electron collisions with any target state (electronic, vibrational and rotational), characterized by any user-prescribed population. LoKI-B includes electron-electron collisions, it handles rotational collisions adopting either a discrete formulation or a more convenient continuous approximation, and it accounts for variations in the number of electrons due to nonconservative events by assuming growth models for the electron density. On input, LoKI-B defines the operating work conditions, the distribution of populations for the electronic, vibrational and rotational levels of the atomic/molecular gases considered, and the relevant sets of electron-scattering cross sections obtained from the open-access website LXCat (http://lxcat. net/). On output, it yields the isotropic and the anisotropic parts of the electron distribution function (the former usually termed the electron energy distribution function), the electron swarm parameters, and the electron power absorbed from the electric field and transferred to the different collisional channels. LoKI-B is developed with flexible and upgradable object-oriented programming under MATLAB ® , to benefit from its matrix-based architecture, adopting an ontology that privileges the separation between tool and data. This topical review presents LoKI-B and gives examples of results obtained for different model and real gases, verifying the tool against analytical solutions, benchmarking it against numerical calculations, and validating the output by comparison with available measurements of swarm parameters.

This work presents transport coefficients of electrons (bulk drift velocity, longitudinal diffusion coefficient, and effective ionization frequency) in CO 2 measured under time-of-flight conditions over a wide range of the reduced electric field, 15 Td ≤ E/N ≤ 2660 Td in a scanning drift tube apparatus. The data obtained in the experiments are also applied to determine the effective steady-state Townsend ionization coefficient. These parameters are compared to the results of previous experimental studies, as well as to results of various kinetic computations: solutions of the electron Boltzmann equation under different approximations (multiterm and density gradient expansions) and Monte Carlo simulations. The experimental data extend the range of E/N compared with previous measurements and are consistent with most of the transport parameters obtained in these earlier studies. The computational results point out the range of applicability of the respective approaches to determine the different measured transport properties of electrons in CO 2 . They demonstrate as well the need for further improvement of the electron collision cross section data for CO 2 taking into account the present experimental data.

We have studied the production of synthesis gas and other hydrocarbons in a dielectric barrier discharge using mixtures of helium, methane and carbon dioxide. It was found that helium has a significant influence on the discharge, decreasing the breakdown voltage and increasing the rate of conversion of CH 4 and CO 2 . However it also decreases the selectivities and the range of stable operating conditions for the discharge. The main products obtained were H 2 , CO, C 2 H 6 and C 3 H 8 but traces of other hydrocarbon, carbon deposition and the formation of condensable products were also detected. The rate of conversion and conversion abilities were obtained by fitting the conversion results to a model.