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Ambient air species, which are transported into the active effluent of an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet result in highly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Especially for the envisaged application field of plasma medicine, these RONS are responsible for strong biological responses. In this work, the effect of ambient air transport into the effluent of an atmospheric-pressure plasma argon jet on the on-axis densities of nitrogen, oxygen and argon was investigated by means of absolutely calibrated molecular beam mass spectrometry (MBMS). According to biomedical experiments a (bottomless) Petri dish was installed in front of the MBMS. In the following, the near flow field is referring to the region close to the nozzle exit and the far flow field is referring to the region beyond that. The absolute on-axis densities were obtained by three different methods, for the near flow field with VUV-absorption technique, for the far flow field with the MBMS and the total flow field was calculated with a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. The results of the ambient air particle densities of all independent methods were compared and showed an excellent agreement. Therefore the transport processes of ambient air species can be measured for the whole effluent of an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. Additionally, with the validation of the simulation it is possible in future to calculate the ambient species transport for various gas fluxes in the same turbulent flow regime. Comparing the on-axis densities obtained with an ignited and with a non-ignited plasma jet shows that for the investigated parameters, the main influence on the ambient air species transport is due to the increased temperature in the case when the jet is switched on. Moreover, the presence of positive ions (e.g. ) formed due to the interaction of plasma-produced particles and ambient air species, which are transported into the effluent, is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the qualitative and quantitative detection of oxygen radicals in liquids after plasma treatment with an atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy is investigated. Absolute values for ·OH and radical concentration and their net production rate in plasma-treated liquids are determined without the use of additional scavenging chemicals such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) or mannitol (D-MAN). The main oxygen-centred radical generation in PBS was found to originate from the superoxide radical. It is shown that hidden parameters such as the manufacturer of chemical components could have a big influence on the comparability and reproducibility of the results. Finally, the effect of a shielding gas device for the investigated plasma jet with a shielding gas composition of varying oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio on radical generation after plasma treatment of phosphate-buffered saline solution was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of feed gas humidity on the reactive component generation of an atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet and its effect on human skin cells are investigated. Feed gas humidity is identified as one key parameter that strongly influences stability and reproducibility of plasma medical studies. The plasma jet is investigated by absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet and infrared spectral region for its ozone production depending on the humidity concentration in the feed gas. By optical emission spectroscopy the dependence of present excited plasma species such as hydroxyl radicals, molecular nitrogen, argon and atomic oxygen on the feed gas humidity is investigated. As an interface layer between the plasma jet effluent and the biological cell, a buffer solution is treated and the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production is studied with two independent colorimetric assays as a function of humidity admixture to the feed gas. Ultimately, the effect of varying feed gas humidity on the cell viability of indirect plasma treated adherent HaCAT cells is investigated. The highest viability is found for the driest feed gas condition. Furthermore, this work shows answers for the relevance of unwanted–or intended–feed gas humidity in plasma medical experiments and their comparatively large relevance with respect to ambient humidity. The findings will lead to more reproducible experiments in the field of plasma medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study for the first time confirms the presence of plasma bullets in a MHz argon atmospheric pressure plasma jet. Bullet characteristics are investigated by phase-resolved optical emission measurements. Regarding the jet's reactive component output, its ozone production rates are investigated by two independent diagnostic techniques yielding complementary results. The first method--UV-absorption spectroscopy in the Hartley band--determines space-resolved distribution of the ozone concentration in the jet effluent. The second method--quantum cascade laser-absorption spectroscopy in the mid-infrared spectral region--yields high sensitivity results of the average ozone concentration in a multipass cell, in which the effluent is directed. The results of both diagnostic techniques show excellent agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space- and time-resolved measurements of Ar (3P2) metastable atoms at the exit of an atmospheric pressure radio-frequency micro-plasma jet are performed using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The discharge features a coaxial geometry with a hollow capillary as the inner electrode and a ceramic tube with a metal ring as the outer electrode. Absorption profiles of metastable atoms and optical emission measurements reveal the dynamics and the filamentary structure of the discharge. Single filaments with a diameter of 125µm and metastable densities of about 1013 cm-3 are observed. The average spatial distribution of Ar metastables is characterized with and without a target in front of the jet, showing that the target potential and, therewith, the electric field distribution substantially change the filaments' expansion. Together with a detailed analysis of the ignition phase and the discharge's behavior under pulsed operation, the results give an insight into the excitation and de-excitation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-scaled plasma jets with reactive process gases, e.g. oxygen, are applied for localized surface treatment. Here, investigations of the development and the spatial distribution of atomic oxygen are reported in the post-discharge effluent of a micro-scaled atmospheric pressure plasma jet. These measurements are supplemented by installation of planar targets of various materials in the effluent. The reactive species are detected by means of two-photon laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy from the discharge, through the free effluent, up to distances of about 200 µm in front of a planar surface. Ozone density profiles are measured by UV absorption spectroscopy. The effect of the effluent on gold and plastic substrates and vice versa is investigated. In the free effluent, the atomic oxygen density falls off exponentially to about 2 × 1015 cm-3 at a distance of 6mm from the jet's nozzle. The implementation of a plastic target does not disturb the O distribution, resulting in a strictly localized etching of the target. In contrast, mounting of a gold target increases the oxygen density and spreads its distribution close to the target. For correlation, surface modifications by plasma treatment of plastic and gold substrates are analysed by UV laser microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathway of the biologically active molecule hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from the plasma generation in the gas phase by an atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet, to its transition into the liquid phase and finally to its inhibiting effect on human skin cells is investigated for different feed gas humidity settings. Gas phase diagnostics like Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy on hydroxyl radicals (·OH) are combined with liquid analytics such as chemical assays and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Furthermore, the viability of human skin cells is measured by Alamar Blue® assay. By comparing the gas phase results with chemical simulations in the far field, H2O2 generation and destruction processes are clearly identified. The net production rate of H2O2 in the gas phase is almost identical to the H2O2 net production rate in the liquid phase. Moreover, by mimicking the H2O2 generation of the plasma jet with the help of an H2O2 bubbler it is concluded that the solubility of gas phase H2O2 plays a major role in generating hydrogen peroxide in the liquid. Furthermore, it is shown that H2O2 concentration correlates remarkably well with the cell viability. Other species in the liquid like ·OH or superoxide anion radical do not vary significantly with feed gas humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold plasmas operating under atmospheric conditions have been in the focus of scientific attention not only due to their use in plasma medicine. Many of these plasma sources most notably produce ozone. This work presents a detailed ozone analysis on an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet operated in ambient air using ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy. A special focus is placed on the question whether other species are involved, or is the absorption signal due to ozone. For this, the wavelength dependence of the optical depth was measured and compared with the theoretical optical depth including the cross section of ozone. The results show that in the case of a MHz frequency driven atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet the absorption signal in the UV range is solely due to ozone. Furthermore, this finding is verified by spectroscopic measurements in the IR spectral range. Additional space-resolved ozone density measurements are performed in the effluent of this jet with small oxygen admixtures by means of UV absorption spectroscopy. A funnel-shaped spatial ozone profile is found for all investigated oxygen admixtures. The highest ozone density develops on the effluent axis and in close vicinity to the jet nozzle. The maximal detected value is 1.5 × 1016 cm−3 for an oxygen admixture of 1%. In order to compare the results with non-space-resolved ozone detection methods the ozone net production rate is calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]