(Invited) The Mutual Roles of the Plasma and Liquid in Plasma Electrolysis

Plasma electrolysis can be roughly described as replacing one of the solid electrodes in a conventional electrolytic cell with a plasma ( i.e. , gas discharge) such that charge transfer oxidation or reduction reactions occur at a plasma-liquid interface rather than a solid-liquid interface. One of the most promising aspects of these systems is the chemistry induced in the liquid by the plasma, ranging from the reduction of metal cations to produce colloidal nanoparticles to the oxidation of organic compounds for water remediation. However, because the plasma itself is a dynamic medium, the liquid also has an impact on plasma properties and behavior. Ultimately, the physics and chemistry of both the plasma and liquid are tightly coupled and mutually dependent, and unraveling these interactions is important for understanding, designing, and optimizing these systems. This talk will overview the efforts of our team to understand these roles using a variety of experimental measurements, theory, and simulations. Topics will include the in situ detection of the solvated electron injected by a plasma, the efficiency of those electrons in driving chemistry, and a recent theoretical description of plasma self-organization on the liquid surface.