Atmospheric-pressure microplasma in dielectrophoresis-driven bubbles for optical emission spectroscopy
Journal
Lab on a Chip - Miniaturisation for Chemistry and Biology
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
19
Pages
3694-3699
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
The manipulation of bubbles and the ignition of microplasma within a 200 nL bubble at atmospheric pressure and in an inert silicone oil environment were achieved. Driven by dielectrophoresis (DEP), bubble generation, transportation, mixing, splitting, and expelling were demonstrated. This process facilitated the preparation of various bubbles with tuneable gas compositions. Different gas bubbles, including air, argon (Ar), helium (He), and Ar/He mixtures, were manipulated and ignited to the plasma state by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) within a 50 μm-high gap between parallel plates. Moving and splitting the atmospheric-pressure microplasma in different gas bubbles were achieved by DEP. The excited light of the microplasma was recorded by an optical spectrometer for the optical emission spectroscopy (OES) analyses. The characteristic peaks of air, Ar, and He were observed in the DEP-driven microplasma. With the capability to manipulate bubbles and microplasma, this platform could be used for gas analyses in the future. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Type
journal article