title: Plasma Catalysis: Synergistic Effects at the Nanoscale.
abstract: Thermal-catalytic gas processing is integral to many current industrial processes. Ever-increasing demands on conversion and energy efficiencies are a strong driving force for the development of alternative approaches. Similarly, synthesis of several functional materials (such as nanowires and nanotubes) demands special processing conditions. Plasma catalysis provides such an alternative, where the catalytic process is complemented by the use of plasmas that activate the source gas. This combination is often observed to result in a synergy between plasma and catalyst. This Review introduces the current state-of-the-art in plasma catalysis, including numerous examples where plasma catalysis has demonstrated its benefits or shows future potential, including CO2 conversion, hydrocarbon reforming, synthesis of nanomaterials, ammonia production, and abatement of toxic waste gases. The underlying mechanisms governing these applications, as resulting from the interaction between the plasma and the catalyst, render the process highly complex, and little is known about the factors leading to the often-observed synergy. This Review critically examines the catalytic mechanisms relevant to each specific application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Research Group PLASMANT, Universiteit Antwerpen , Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk-Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Erik C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Neyts
authors.affiliation: Institute for Future Environments and School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia.|Plasma Nanoscience Laboratories, Manufacturing Flagship, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization , P.O. Box 218, Lindfield, New South Wales 2070, Australia.
authors.forename: Kostya Ken
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ostrikov
authors.affiliation: Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research and Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville , Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States.
authors.forename: Mahendra K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sunkara
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Research Group PLASMANT, Universiteit Antwerpen , Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk-Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annemie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogaerts