Achieving Low Voltage Plasma Discharge in Aqueous Solution Using Lithographically Defined Electrodes and Metal/Dielectric Nanoparticles

Abstract

Because of the high dielectric strength of water, it is extremely difficult to discharge plasma in a controllable way in the aqueous phase. By using lithographically defined electrodes and metal/dielectric nanoparticles, we create electric field enhancement that enables plasma discharge in liquid electrolytes at significantly reduced applied voltages. Here, we use high voltage (10−30 kV) nanosecond pulse (20 ns) discharges to generate a transient plasma in the aqueous phase. An electrode geometry with a radius of curvature of approximately 10 μm, a gap distance of 300 μm, and an estimated field strength of 5 × 10 6 V/cm resulted in a reduction in the plasma discharge threshold from 28 to 23 kV. A second structure had a radius of curvature of around 5 μm and a gap distance of 100 μm had an estimated field strength of 9 × 10 6 V/cm but did not perform as well as the larger gap electrodes. Adding gold nanoparticles (20 nm diameter) in solution further reduced the threshold for plasma discharge to 17 kV due to the electric field enhancement at the water/gold interface, with an estimated E-field enhancement of 4×. Adding alumina nanoparticles decorated with Pt reduced the plasma discharge threshold to 14 kV. In this scenario, the emergence of a triple point at the juncture of alumina, Pt, and water results in the coexistence of three distinct dielectric constants at a singular location. This leads to a notable concentration of electric field, effectively aiding in the initiation of plasma discharge at a reduced voltage. To gain a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of the electric field enhancement mechanism, we performed rigorous numerical simulations. These simulations provide valuable insights into the intricate interplay between the lithographically defined electrodes, the nanoparticles, and the resulting electric field distribution, enabling us to extract crucial information and optimize the design parameters for enhanced performance.