Hydrogen Production From Aerosol Ethanol in Nanosecond Pulsed Discharge : Effect of Pulse Parameters

Abstract

Ethanol conversion in a nanosecond pulsed discharge is investigated by varying pulse width, repetition frequency, interelectrode gap, and ethanol injection rate in an argon-ethanol plasma. The parameter sweep shows the plasma operates in a spark regime and reveals how energy deposition and discharge memory effect control gas heating and electron-induced ethanol fragmentation. Longer pulses, wider gaps, and higher frequencies enhance conversion through increased energy delivery, whereas ethanol injection rate has only a minor effect on plasma characteristics. A maximum conversion of 33.5% occurs at a 4 mm gap, 250 ns pulse width, 8 kHz frequency, and 50 µL min⁻¹ injection rate. Product selectivity remains consistent across conditions and matches pyrolysis-model pathways, indicating the plasma heating process dominates product formation.