Effective CO2 Decomposition in a Nonthermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet System Coupled with CuO Catalysts

Abstract

Plasma-assisted CO₂ decomposition is a promising strategy for mitigating CO₂ emissions. This study integrates a nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (NTAPPJ) system with CuO catalysts to enhance CO₂ conversion, selectivity, and energy efficiency through synergistic plasma–catalyst interactions. Optimization of discharge power and CO₂ flow rate reveals that higher power increases CO output but reduces energy efficiency, while elevated flow rates improve CO yield but decrease conversion rates. Optimal conditions (100 W, 10 sccm CO₂ flow rate) yield 37.98% conversion and 0.73% energy efficiency, with stable performance over 8 h. Experiments isolating photocatalytic and thermal catalytic contributions identify oxygen vacancies in CuO as active sites facilitating CO₂ adsorption and activation. These findings establish NTAPPJ-CuO systems as an innovative approach to plasma–catalyst CO₂ decomposition, offering new insights into plasma–catalysis mechanism.