EAGER: Numerical two-dimensional fluid simulations and finite element analysis to model an adaptive and flexible microplasma discharge system.

EARLY概念探索性研究补助金（EAGER）将探索不同环境条件对微等离子体放电的影响，以加快基于微等离子体放电设备的系统开发步伐。基于非热或冷等离子体的微等离子体放电装置在食品、生物医学和医疗保健行业的各种应用中受到越来越多的关注。器件的性能取决于稳定均匀的微等离子体放电。为了保持微等离子体放电的均匀分布，装置通常以高输入电压沿着使用惰性气体（例如氩、氖、氦、氙和氮）来操作。然而，高电压和惰性气体的使用是安全隐患，并且禁止便携式微等离子体放电装置的发展。为了克服这些限制，微等离子体放电装置在稳定的大气条件下在受控的环境和专门的腔室中操作，从而使得系统复杂、庞大、非便携且昂贵。尽管可以开发在大气中操作的新颖微等离子体放电装置来解决这些缺点，但是装置暴露于变化的环境条件，包括动态温度、压力和湿度变化。这进一步增加了与最佳微等离子体放电装置的开发相关的挑战，因为电子密度、电子迁移率和电子温度由于变化的环境条件而发生变化。EAGER赠款用于深入了解微等离子体放电动力学，如电子密度，电子迁移率和电子温度在不同的环境条件下。该研究有可能推进微等离子体放电装置的自适应控制系统的发展。这可能会对新兴的柔性混合电子（FHE）和可穿戴生物医学行业产生深远的技术和经济影响。该项目的研究成果将通过在同行评审期刊上发表的研究论文以及在地区、国家和国际会议上的演讲进行传播。EAGER基金资助的研究旨在从根本上降低开发新型微等离子体放电器件的相关风险，并研究以前未研究过的微等离子体放电性能。将进行数值二维流体模拟和有限元分析，以模拟不同微等离子体放电装置配置的微等离子体动力学，这些微等离子体放电装置配置具有不同的电极设计、电极间隙和整体装置尺寸，在不同的环境条件下。结果将使微等离子体放电装置参数的优化一致的电子密度和电子迁移率。这将促进跨电极表面的均匀电压分布，从而导致微等离子体放电的均匀产生。将对优化的电极配置进行介质阻挡放电和击穿电压分析，以了解微等离子体放电所需的最佳击穿电压。微等离子体放电动力学，如电子密度，电子迁移率和电子温度的有限元建模和模拟将完成不同的环境温度，压力和湿度。结果将被用来生成一个详细的数据库，可用于设计和制造新的微等离子体放电装置，可集成与自适应控制系统的发展，新的微等离子体放电装置为基础的系统。这项研究的根本性突破将消除与优化微等离子体放电设备相关的风险，用于灭菌，伤口消毒和表面处理等应用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) grant will explore the effects of varying ambient conditions on microplasma discharge for accelerating the pace of microplasma discharge device-based system development. Microplasma discharge devices, which are based on non-thermal or cold plasmas, have been receiving growing interest for various applications in the food, biomedical and health care industries. The performance of the devices is dependent on a stable and uniform microplasma discharge. To maintain a uniform distribution of microplasma discharge, the devices are often operated with high input voltages along with the use of inert gases such as argon, neon, helium, xenon and nitrogen. However, the use of high voltages and inert gases are a safety hazard and prohibits the development of portable microplasma discharge devices. To overcome these limitations, the microplasma discharge devices are operated in controlled environments and specialized chambers, under stable atmospheric conditions, thus making the systems complex, bulky, non-portable and expensive. Even though novel microplasma discharge devices that operate in atmospheric air can be developed to address these drawbacks, the devices are exposed to varying ambient conditions including dynamic temperature, pressure and humidity changes. This further multiplies the challenges associated with the development of optimum microplasma discharge devices because of the changes in electron density, electron mobility and electron temperature due to the varying ambient conditions. The EAGER grant is used for developing a deep understanding of the microplasma discharge dynamics such as electron density, electron mobility and electron temperature under varying ambient conditions. The research has the potential to advance the development of adaptive control systems for microplasma discharge devices. This could have a profound technological and economic impact on the emerging flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) and wearable biomedical industries. The results obtained from this project will be disseminated through research publications in peer reviewed journals as well as in presentations at regional, national and international conferences.The research under this EAGER grant aims to radically reduce the risk associated in developing novel microplasma discharge devices and study the microplasma discharge performance that has not been investigated before. Numerical two-dimensional fluid simulations and finite element analysis will be performed to model the microplasma dynamics of different microplasma discharge device configurations with varying electrode designs, electrode gaps and overall device dimensions, at varying ambient conditions. The results will enable optimization of the microplasma discharge device parameters for consistent electron density and electron mobility. This will facilitate uniform voltage distribution across the surface of the electrodes resulting in uniform generation of microplasma discharge. The dielectric barrier discharge and breakdown voltage analysis will be performed on the optimized electrode configuration to understand the optimum breakdown voltage required for microplasma discharge. Finite element modelling and simulations of the microplasma discharge dynamics such as electron density, electron mobility and electron temperature will be completed for varying ambient temperature, pressure and humidity. The results will be utilized to generate a detailed database that can be used for designing and fabricating novel microplasma discharge devices which can be integrated with adaptive control systems for the development of novel microplasma discharge device based systems. The fundamental breakthroughs from this research will eliminate the risks associated with optimizing microplasma discharge devices for applications such as sterilization, wound disinfection and surface treatments.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.