Kinetics of ozone and nitric oxides in dielectric barrier discharges in O2/NOx and N2/O2/NOx mixtures

Concentrations of NO, NO2, NO3, N2O5, and O-3 were measured by classical absorption spectroscopy in dielectric barrier discharges in flowing O-2/NOx and N-2/O-2/NOx mixtures. The results of measurements in different parts of the discharge chamber and in its exhaust are compared to a numerical zero-dimensional kinetic model and good agreement is found. The experimentally found upper limit of the NOx concentration allowing ozone production is confirmed by the kinetic calculations for both gas mixtures. The rotational temperature of different nitrogen bands was measured by high-resolution emission spectroscopy. The results are explained on the basis of a simplified model and related to the gas temperature in the microdischarge channel and the surrounding gas.