Hydrogen gas generation by water vapor dissociation in an Al/Al2O3 microchannel plasma device

An aluminum/alumina (Al/Al2O3) microchannel plasma reactor is used to generate H2 with an energy efficiency of 2.5 % by dissociating water vapor in Ar at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The value compares favorably to other plasma reactors reported in the literature, having reported energy efficiencies ≤ 2 %. Additionally, spectra of the Hα line are used to calculate electron densities, which are in the vicinity of 1.5 ± 0.2 × 1016 cm-3, while spectra of the OH(A-X) transition show a distinctly non-equilibrium population distribution in the OH(A2Σ+) state. Al/Al2O3 microchannel plasma device was shown to be efficient in water dissociation as compared with other plasma reactors recently reported in the literature.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Dai, Zhen

• Plasma
• Hydrogen
• Water Dissociation
• optical emission spectra (OES)

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Zhen Dai

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78544

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/78544